Volume reduction of hot cell plastic wastes

The remote analytical laboratory (RAL) provides chemical analysis service for the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant, a facility that processes government-owned spent reactor fuel. Many of the samples analyzed in the RAL are radioactive and must be handled in a shielded, remotely operated hot cell. The design of the hot cell includes provision for removal of contaminated wastes generated by cell operation. Solid wastes are transferred out of the cell and into a sealed 60-ell polyethylene container. No commercially available or literature-described waste compactors were found that were suitable as a retrofit installation in the RAL hot cell. Efforts to develop a suitable compactor resulted in development of a 15- x 15-cm grid of heated Nichrome wires, 2.54 cm on center, used to cut the waste into small pieces. It is estimated that a projected operating rates, a saving of at least one waste container per week will be achieved with any combination of the volume-reduction techniques described. This represents a savings of $400 in the cost of the container alone. An ordinary steel drum used as a secondary container is an additional $60. If a remotely retrievable drum is required, the cost is $500. Significant savings will be achieved in the expense of transporting the waste container to the waste storage area and the considerable cost of preparing the storage space and future permanent disposal. All of the systems described can be easily repaired or replaced remotely