Versatility and innovations for a new mission at the Hanford Site

The B Plant located at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State is a nuclear processing plant that was constructed in 1945. Over the last 45 years the plant mission has changed three times. This has been possible because of the versatility of the remote operating mode of B Plant. In order to accommodate mission changes, the plant was required to make major modifications in cell processing equipment. Many of these modifications were accomplished remotely. During each mission, the process had to be modified as individual campaigns were completed and new campaigns begun. The B Plant is now in an upgrade mode with two new missions that will support the facility into the 21st century. These upgrades are possible with the versatility of the 75-ton capacity bridge crane and the layout of the processing cells. These upgrades will include two new processes (i.e., Neutralized Current Acid Waste [NCAW] and Transuranic Extraction [TRUEX]). The NCAW process will use approximately 10 existing cells at B Plant. This will require the design and fabrication of approximately 60 new jumpers and a new ion exchange column. The plant will also add new pumps and agitators to support this process. The TRUEX process changes will be more comprehensive in scope