DOE 2000. - Waste Isolation Pilot Plant - U.S. Department of Energy

WIPP RH PSAR DOE/WIPP-03-3174 CHAPTER 4
The WHB is a steel frame structure with insulated steel siding, and includes portions of the building,
such as the Hot Cell and Transfer Cell, that are constructed of concrete for shielding and structural
purposes. The WHB acts as a confinement barrier to control the potential for release of radioactive
material and is classified as Design Class II. The WHB is designed for Design Class II loads, including
the Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) and Design Basis Tornado (DBT). Waste handling areas subject to
potential for contamination are provided with impermeable protective coatings. The WHB Confinement
and Ventilation System is discussed in detail in Section 4.4, the Safety Support Systems in Section 4.5,
and the Utility/Auxiliary Systems in Section 4.6.
4.2.1.1.1 RH TRU Waste Handling Areas
The RH TRU waste side of the WHB has two major areas for handling RH waste: the RH bay and the
transfer complex. The transfer complex is divided into four sub-areas designed for specific functions: the
Cask Unloading Room (CUR), the Transfer Cell, the Hot Cell, and the Facility Cask Loading Room.
The major areas within the RH waste handling area are shown in Figures 4.2-1a and 4.2-1b, with
sectional views shown in Figure 4.2.3. Waste transport routes in the WHB are shown in Figure 4.2-2.
RH Bay
The WHB RH bay is a high-bay area for receiving and initial handling operations of the 72-B and
10-160B shielded road casks. A trailer carrying a shielded road cask enters the RH bay through a set of
double doors on the eastern side of the WHB. For contamination control, the WHB ventilation system is
designed to maintain airflow direction to the areas where postulated accidents could occur. Ventilation
airflow is from the RH bay into the CUR and Hot Cell; from the CUR into the Transfer Cell; from the
Facility Cask Loading Room into the Transfer Cell; and from the Transfer Cell into the Hot Cell. The
RH bay houses the following equipment:
Overhead 140/25 Ton Bridge Crane
The Design Class IIIA overhead 140-ton bridge crane with a 25-ton auxiliary hoist is used for road cask
handling and maintenance operations. The bridge crane is designed to stay on its rails retaining control
of the load during a DBE. The crane is controlled from a control box operated from the floor of the RH
Bay. The 140-ton main hoist has a lifting height of 41 ft (12.5 m), while the 25-ton auxiliary hoist has a
lifting height of 42 ft (12.8 m).
Motorized Man Lifts
Two motorized man lifts are used to provide waste operations personnel elevated work platforms for
access to the 72B and 10-160B casks while the casks are on their transport trailers. Waste operations
personnel use the platforms to perform the initial waste handling activities of removing the impact
limiters from the road casks and performing any work required for readying the casks for lifting from
their trailers. After the 10-160B road cask has been off-loaded, waste operations personnel, working off
the lift, remove the lid bolts.
RH TRU 72-B Road Cask
The RH TRU 72-B road cask is a stainless steel, lead-shielded cask designed to provide double
containment for shipment of transuranic waste materials. The packaging consists of a cylindrical
stainless steel and lead cask body, a separate inner stainless steel vessel, and foam-filled impact limiters
at each end of the cask body.
4.2-2 January 28, 2003