Comparative Testing of Slurry Monitors

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has millions of gallons of radioactive liquid and sludge wastes stored in underground tanks. These wastes must be retrieved, transferred to treatment facilities, and processed for disposal. Before removal from the storage tanks, the sludge and liquid wastes will typically be combined to create a mixture of suspended solids, generally referred to as a slurry; the slurry is then pumped from the tank to the treatment facilities by pipelines. Depending on the location of the tank and the treatment facility, the slurries may have to be transported several miles. Since the wastes are radioactive, it is critically important that the slurries are transported safely and successfully.