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Pit Viper

Technology Category: Robotic Work System

HIGHLIGHTS:

Deployed at Hanford.

Demonstrated ability to remotely perform tasks common to pit clean out and refurbishment.

Resulted in near 50% reduction in worker dose.

• 60% increase in available pit work time
• Completed pit work without personnel in containment tent

BACKGROUND:

More than 600 tank waste equipment pits are located adjacent to Hanford’s 177 underground storage tanks.

These rectangular concrete pits lie below ground and contain pumps, valves, and pipe couplings designed to allow transfer of highly radioactive wastes.

They are contaminated and must be inspected, cleaned, decontaminated and refurbished before the waste transfer to the vitrification plant can begin.

• 60% increase in available pit work time
• This is the most dose-intensive work under Hanford’s River Protection Project
• The overall concept of the Pit Viper is to minimize worker exposure

DETAILS:

The Pit Viper is a remotely operated system consisting of a backhoe, manipulator arm, operator console, and control trailer. In December 2001, CH2MHill Hanford and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory successfully completed a radiologically hot deployment and demonstration of the Pit Viper capabilities in the 241-C-104 heel pit.

• The scope of the hot demonstration included: Cutting and removal of foam insulationRemoving debris, trash, and objectsScraping/cleaning the pit floor and wallPreparing, painting, decontaminating, and applying fixatives.

This work was funded by the Department of Energy, Office of Science & Technology via the Robotics Crosscut Program and the Tanks Focus Area.For more information go to the Pit Viper web site.

Point of Contact: Sharon Bailey (509) 375-2243