Research Capabilities
Spray Release Methodology
PNNL staff obtained $5.8 million in funding from the DOE Office of River Protection to
address a major potential event postulated in the hazard analysis for the Hanford Waste
Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). Specifically, the work involves quantifying
the droplet size and concentration of aerosols, particularly in the respirable range, during a
breach in the high-pressure slurry transfer lines that are present in the "black cells" of the
WTP. The information generated from this study will help DOE and WTP officials reduce
major sources of uncertainty associated with the airborne release fraction and respirable
fractions for spray leak accident scenarios as identified by the Defense Nuclear Facilities
Safety Board.
Large-scale test configuration designed and built at PNNL to evaluate aerosol generation at the WTP