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

WIPP RH PSAR DOE/WIPP-03-3174 CHAPTER 4
The top facility cask shield valve is opened, the Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve is opened, then the
bottom facility cask shield valve is opened and the facility grapple, attached to the 6.25-ton grapple
hoist, is lowered through the facility cask into the Transfer Cell. (Note: the Transfer Cell ceiling shield
valve and both facility cask shield valves are interlocked so that the facility cask bottom shield cannot be
opened unless the Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve is opened and the Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve
cannot be closed unless the facility cask bottom shield valve is closed) The facility grapple engages the
inner lid pintle, installed at the cask preparation station, and lifts the inner lid clear of the 72B cask.
When the lid is clear of the cask, radiological contamination swipes are taken by robotic means and are
transferred from the Transfer Cell for analysis. The lid is lifted so that the Transfer Cell ceiling shield
valve can be closed. The shuttle car is then repositioned so that the inner lid storage platform is aligned
under the Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve. The Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve is opened and the
facility grapple positions the inner lid on its storage platform and releases the pintle. The facility grapple
is lifted so that the Transfer Cell ceiling shield valve can be closed. The shuttle car then positioned so
that the 72B cask is in alignment with the Transfer Cell Shield valve and the shield valve is opened. The
facility grapple is lowered until it engages the pintle of the waste canister.
As the waste canister is lifted from the 72B cask and before it passes through the Transfer Cell ceiling
shield valve, radiological contamination swipes on the waste canister are taken by robotic means and are
transferred from the Transfer Cell for analysis. Also the waste canister identification is observed by
CCTV cameras and compared against the identity listed on the hazardous waste manifest and the WIPP
Waste Information System (WWIS) to verify that the canister is suitable for emplacement. During the
lift, the CCTV cameras provide a visual inspection to verify the mechanical integrity of the waste
canister.
When the surveys have been satisfactorily completed and identification verified, the waste canister is
lifted inside the facility cask. The bottom shield valve of the facility cask is closed, the Transfer Cell
ceiling shield valve is closed, and the facility grapple lowers the waste canister so that it is resting on the
gate of the bottom shield valve. the waste canister is held in position until the results of the
contamination survey are completed. If the waste canister is cleared for disposal, the facility grapple
disengages from the waste canister pintle and is lifted into the bell shield, then the facility cask top shield
valve is closed. The bell shield is then lifted away from the facility cask and the telescoping port shield
is lowered. The facility cask is rotated to the horizontal position. The Facility Cask Loading Room
shield door is opened.
If any discrepancy in a waste canister’s identity or surveys (radiological and integrity) is detected, the
waste canister will be re-inserted inside the road cask and the inner lid placed on the road cask. The
shuttle car will position the road cask under the Hot Cell transfer path opening in the ceiling of the
Transfer Cell. Radiological surveys will be performed to determine if any streaming paths from the road
cask inner lid exists. If determined to be radiologically safe, the inner lid bolts will be manually
tensioned and the 72B road cask unloading process will be reversed.
4.3-3 January 28, 2003