When were first melters installed?

Assembly of the first melter was completed in June 2017. Melters were delivered to the Vit Plant in parts and assembled/fabricated on-site.

How long does it take to heat up a melter?

It takes approximately 2 months. It takes about 22 days for the initial heatup, followed by several days of testing with frit addition through the melter head, followed by about 30 days of checkout with slurry feed from the feed system.

How have personnel trained and prepared to heat up the melter, do it safely, and to meet quality standards?

Training for operators includes classroom training, on the job training, simulator training, qualifications, drills, and proficiency demonstrations

Will we “see” anything coming from the DFLAW facility after the melter is heated up and running? (exhaust, steam, plumes from a stack, etc.)

The rigorous offgas and charcoal filter system collects most discharge from the LAW facility. Because the discharge from the melters is high humidity, you may possibly see a steam/condensation plume from the offgas stack on a cold day.

How long after Melter Heatup until start of operations (treating waste)?

In the current schedule, the Operational Readiness Review for start of operations is 14 months after Melter 1 Heatup is completed. The Commissioning Test Planning Schedule lists 40 activities that must be completed from Melter 1 Heatup to initiation of tank waste into the facility. This important commissioning work takes approximately one year to complete.

Journey to Melter Heatup

The Department of Energy’s Hanford Vit Plant is on a journey to heat up the first of two melters, considered the heart of a process that transforms nuclear waste into a glass form safe for storage. This process – called vitrification – will help protect our environment and rivershore communities from Hanford’s legacy waste. Follow us on this journey toward achieving Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste in 2025, which follows a process called Commissioning to reach operations.

Commissioning is fully underway. Learn more about key steps along the Commissioning road with these interactive waypoints, below.

MELTER HEATUP PROCESS 3D ANIMATION

Three-Dimensional Animation of Melter Heatup Process

The Hanford Vit Plant team has prepared a three-dimensional animation that shows the process our team will follow to heat up the first Low-Activity Waste Facility melter. In under six minutes you will gain a better understanding of the process steps the Vit Plant team will take to heat up the melter to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hanford Tank Waste Mission Advances with Heat up of Second Melter

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the safe and successful heat up of the second of the two world’s largest melters at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Washington state. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the Department’s ongoing effort to address chemical and radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford Site.

Molten Glass Fills Vit Plant Melter

The Vit Plant team last week poured the first batches of glass-forming beads, called frit, into a melter heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature, the beads melted and created the first molten pool inside the melter, which during future hot operations will immobilize radioactive and chemical tank waste in a form safe for permanent disposal.

Officials Try Again To Fire Up World’s Largest Radioactive Waste Melter

A second attempt began on Saturday to heat up the world’s largest radioactive waste melter to turn waste into a stable glass form at the Hanford nuclear reservation site.

Vit Plant Shift Operations Managers Reach Full Qualification

The Vit Plant recognized a significant team achievement when the last of its eight shift operations managers finished a rigorous qualifications process.

Bechtel Names New Vit Plant Project Director

Bechtel today named Senior Vice President Brian Hartman as project director for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) project at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site.

Hanford Tank Waste Mission Advances with Heat up of Second Melter

Molten Glass Fills Vit Plant Melter

Officials Try Again To Fire Up World’s Largest Radioactive Waste Melter

A second attempt began on Saturday to heat up the world’s largest radioactive waste melter to turn waste into a stable glass form at the Hanford nuclear reservation site.

Vit Plant Shift Operations Managers Reach Full Qualification

The Vit Plant recognized a significant team achievement when the last of its eight shift operations managers finished a rigorous qualifications process.

Bechtel Names New Vit Plant Project Director

Bechtel today named Senior Vice President Brian Hartman as project director for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) project at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site.

MELTERS 101

Considered the “heart” of the Low-Activity Waste Facility, two 300-ton nuclear waste melters – the largest nuclear industry melters in the world – will be used to heat Hanford’s low-activity tank waste and glass-forming materials to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heated mixture is then poured into stainless steel containers for permanent storage – a process called vitrification. Employees have finished assembly of the melters and these key pieces of equipment are now undergoing extensive startup and commissioning testing to ensure successful melter heatup and operation.

Journey to Melter Heatup

MELTER HEATUP PROCESS 3D ANIMATION

Three-Dimensional Animation of Melter Heatup Process

WHAT’S NEW

Hanford Tank Waste Mission Advances with Heat up of Second Melter

Molten Glass Fills Vit Plant Melter

Officials Try Again To Fire Up World’s Largest Radioactive Waste Melter

Vit Plant Shift Operations Managers Reach Full Qualification

Bechtel Names New Vit Plant Project Director

Hanford Tank Waste Mission Advances with Heat up of Second Melter

Molten Glass Fills Vit Plant Melter

Officials Try Again To Fire Up World’s Largest Radioactive Waste Melter

Vit Plant Shift Operations Managers Reach Full Qualification

Bechtel Names New Vit Plant Project Director

MELTERS 101

Questions? Contact Us!