ICPP Tank Farm systems analysis

Abstract

DISCLAIMERThis reportwas preparedas an accountof worksponsoredby an agencyof the UnitedStates Government.Neitherthe UnitedStatesGovemmentnoranyagency thereof, nor any of their employees,makes any warranty, expressor implied,or assumes any legal liabilityor responsibilityfor the accuracy,completeness,or usefulness of any information,apparatus, product or process disclosed, or representsthatitsusewouldnotinfringeprivatelyownedrights.Referencesherein J to anyspecificcommercial product,process,or servicebytradename, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, orfavoringbytheUnitedStatesGovernmentorany agency thereof. The views and opinionsof authorsexpressedherein do not necessarilystate or reflectthoseof the UnitedStates Government or any agency thereof. WlNCO SummaryDuring the early years (1950)(1951)(1952)(1953)(1954)(1955)(1956)(1957)(1958)(1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965) of Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) operations, eleven, 300,000-gallon waste storage tanks were constructed and now constitute the major portion of the ICPP Tank Farm. These tanks were built to the standards at the time of construction, but do not meet all current standards. A project was in progress to replace these aging tanks; however, since fuel reprocessing has been curtailed at ICPP, it is not clear that the new tanks are required. The Department of Energy (DOE) requested a systems engineering evaluation to determine the need for the new tanks. To satisfy this request, a Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Company team was assembled to perform the study.The systematic approach used for the study consisted of five steps: problem definition, functional requirements determination, alternatives determination, systems definition, ,and evaluation and optimization.The defined problem, as presented to the committee, was to evaluate all feasible options for emptying the existing Tank Farm and to determine the need for new tanks. The functional requirements identified for the study were: it must meet current regulations, be cost effective, minimize technical risk, consider waste minimization, minimize the time required to 'treat the waste, minimize required new tank volume, and be compatible with all current wastes and any new wastes expected to be generated.Over 100 alternatives were identified during a facilitated team meeting using Value Engineering techniques. After eliminating any ideas which clearly could not meet the requirements, the remaining ideas were combined into nine basic cases with five sub cases. These fourteen cases were then carefully defined using two methods. First, each case was drawn graphically to show waste processing equipment interfaces and time constraints where they existed or were imposed. Second, each case was analyzed using a time-dependent computer simulation of ICPP waste management activities to determine schedule interactions, liquid storage requirements, and solid waste quantities. The modeling was a life-cycle analysis that included pr...