Insei - AMWTP

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Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP)
Working with Bechtel BWXT Idaho (BBWI) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP), Insei is developing and maintaining the Waste Tracking System (WTS) required for processing the nuclear waste destined for permanent emplacement in the WIPP repository. The WTS is used to carry out all phases of the hazardous waste management lifecycle; from removal of the waste from the Retrieval Enclosure, which in the case of AMWTP at present is approximately 53,000 cubic meters of stored waste, through the shipment of the waste to WIPP for permanent emplacement.

The WTS captures the required data to determine the contents of the retrieved containers. This data is acquired during the characterization phase of the waste management lifecycle as it is generated from equipment that includes real-time radiography units, gamma spectrometry equipment, a drum coring unit and a headspace gas sampling glovebox. Each piece of equipment performs a specific function to ensure the contents of the waste containers before they are treated and shipped.

Real-time radiography x-rays the waste containers and is powerful enough to see the components of a light bulb inside of a waste drum.
Gamma spectrometry equipment measures the amount of radiation present in each waste container.
Drum coring takes a sample of certain containers to determine its content matter.
Headspace gas sampling checks for the presence of harmful gases within waste containers.

Additionally, Insei's WTS system development and maintenance initiatives include the Facility module that controls the material transfer functionality, associated with the AMWTP Integrated Control System (ICS) that is critical for managing the following facility functions:

Criticality Control
Product Drum Accumulation Rules
Low Level Waste
Plant Optimization System (POS) Direct Feed Picklist
Maintenance
Transport Containers
Liquid Collection
Process Optimization System
Swabber & Lidder
Invoicing
Drum Assay
Packet Assay
Box Line Breakout
Box In-Feed Checks