Acceptance Testing of FBRM® for Slurry Transfer Applications - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Numatec Hanford Company

A METTLER TOLEDO FBRM^® M600 was selected for deployment on radioactive slurry transfer systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Hanford. Extensive testing with non-radioactive, tank-waste simulants indicated that FBRM^® was able to measure the change in particle size distribution of concentrated slurries at flow rates greater than 2 m/s. It was thus concluded that FBRM^® would be useful for monitoring particles ranging from 0.8 μm to 1000 μm in several DOE defense nuclear complex slurry transfer lines.

FBRM^® also provided relatively stable mean particle size values when air bubbles were introduced to the slurry pipe test loop and the color of the slurry was altered. In addition, it was determined that online monitoring of important chemical species (e.g., hydroxide, aluminate, and phosphate) may be the best method of predicting whether gelation or precipitation reactions are expected during slurry transport operations.

By reducing the risk of pipeline blockage, FBRM^® is expected to yield significant cost savings at Hanford and Oak Ridge. In addition, fewer samples of radioactive slurries will need to be measured in the laboratory, further reducing costs and increasing safety.