Columbia Energy was selected to analyze the safety significant ductwork of the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant.  Of the four major nuclear facilities of the Vit Plant, Columbia Energy has provided ductwork analyses for the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification (LAW) and the Analytical Laboratory (LAB) facilities.  The ductwork was analyzed in accordance with ASME AG-1 criteria.  The analyses account for dead weight of the insulated duct and duct components, live loads applied at each mid-span between supports, seismic stress, and stresses from high temperature conditions. The analyses verify duct thickness, stiffener size and spacing, and transition details.

Steel supports were also analyzed in accordance with ASME AG-1 and AISC codes.  Like the ductwork, analysis includes deadweight of the duct and duct components, live load, seismic stress, and stress due to temperature conditions.

Services

• Civil Engineering – Structural
• RISA-3D modeling
• ANSYS Modeling

Stakeholders

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB)
• Office of River Protection (ORP)
• Intermech, Inc.
• Bechtel National, Inc. – Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant