Deployment of a 3D Sonar System at Savannah River: Results, Implications and Next Steps - 19718
Waste solids mapping is required at SRS to support the closure of high level radioactive waste tanks. The current mapping methodologies utilize a combination of video inspections and still camera photos to record the solids location and height in the tank with interpretation by site Engineering personnel. Tank liquid level is recorded during capture of the images to determine the height of solids. If no liquid is present, the images are compared to known waste tank features (e.g., cooling coils, support columns) to determine the height of the solids. In December of 2017, NuVision Engineering and Fortis Engineering conducted a demonstration of Sonar technology in SRS F-Tank Farm (FTF) Tank 7 using three risers (Risers 1, 5, and Center) for the purposes of mapping waste solids in the tank. Tank 7 was not the ideal choice for a 'first-of-a-kind' deployment given its congested internals but was selected based on the priority of tank farm operations. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) evaluated the results of this demonstration against the current solids mapping methodologies to determine potential future application of Sonar technology to support upcoming sludge or salt waste removal, decisions to cease waste removal and perform sampling and analysis, final residuals volume determinations, and applicability for use in H-Tank Farm (HTF) Type IV tanks. The efficiency of the Sonar mapping technology against the current mapping techniques and the relative costs of each were also evaluated. The Sonar demonstration performed in the three risers of Tank 7 resulted in a tank floor coverage of approximately 26%. This limited coverage was primarily due to shadow effects and image distortions created by vertical cooling coils and support columns within the waste tank. A comparison of the images produced during the Sonar demonstration and the historical Tank 7 mapping, performed in 2011 upon completion of Bulk Waste Removal Efforts (BWRE), showed physical similarities between the mounds located near the Sonar deployment risers. The technology performed well in accurately mapping solids in those areas accessible to coverage. The Sonar mapping technology may achieve more benefits if configured to work around internal obstructions, or in a Type IV tank, where the lack of vertical cooling coils may allow for a larger coverage area. (authors)