Four large corrosion-resistant process vessels recently arrived at Hanford's WTP, marking a significant step in the effluent management construction.
Office of Environmental Management
January 22, 2019
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RICHLAND, Wash. — Four large corrosion-resistant process vessels recently arrived at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), marking a significant step in the effluent management facility (EMF) construction.
The vessels are internal components of the EMF, which serves as part of the WTP Balance of Facilities support infrastructure. The vessels will aid the process to receive, hold, and transfer liquids throughout the EMF. During low-activity waste (LAW) vitrification, secondary liquid waste is generated from the melter off-gas system and during waste transfer pipe flushing. These liquids go to the EMF where excess water is evaporated, and the remaining concentrate is sent back into the vitrification process.
“We now have 12 of 14 Balance of Facilities buildings in either the startup-and-testing phase, or fully operational to support the commissioning phase,” said Tom Fletcher, WTP project director for EM’s Office of River Protection. “The effluent management facility represents the final major WTP construction effort to support the direct feed low-activity waste (DFLAW) treatment approach.”
The vessels range in size and have a combined weight of more than 56 tons with a total capacity of more than 73,400 gallons. The largest of the vessels stands 45 feet tall with a 14-foot diameter and weighs 24.5 tons with a 38,000-gallon capacity.
Washington state-based manufacturer Greenberry Industrial fabricated the corrosion-resistant vessels for WTP prime contractor Bechtel National Inc. (BNI). The vessels were fabricated, welded, and tested at the company’s Vancouver, Washington, and Corvallis, Oregon, facilities, then transported to WTP via a heavy-haul trailer. The largest vessel was shipped at nighttime to minimize traffic impacts and improve transportation safety.
“Receiving these large vessels is an important step in moving the effluent management facility from a civil construction phase to a mechanical and piping installation phase,” said Valerie McCain, BNI principal vice president and WTP project director. “With a majority of the concrete and structural steel work complete, we can now move forward with installing piping, equipment, and vessels.”
Work crews have already installed two vessels from Greenberry Industrial and expect to install the four new arrivals in spring 2019. Crews have also begun piping installation along with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducting and electrical work.
The DFLAW approach initiates the treatment of low-activity Hanford tank waste, increases available double-shell tank space, and provides valuable lessons to aid startup and commissioning of other portions of the WTP.