Tank Pit Clean Up and Refurbishment — Pit Viper

Problem:

Hanford Tank Farm valve pits need to be refurbished to transfer waste to the immobilization contractor.

The Pit Viper consists of a 6-DOF manipulator mounted on a backhoe. It is designed to assist Hanford workers in the refurbishment of radioactively contaminated tank farm equipment pits. The Pit Viper was successfully deployed in the C104 tank valve pit at Hanford.

Pit refurbishment is the most dose-intensive work under Hanford's River Protection Program (RPP).
There are over 600 pits at Hanford.
Hanford Site Technology Coordination Group (STCG) Need RL-WT021: "Cleaning, Decontaminating, and Upgrading Hanford Pits"

Project Goal:

Develop a remotely operated system to enhance Hanford Tank Farm pit operations. System is to improve safety, and reduce cost and schedule.

Technical Strategy:

Provide a simple, turn-key system based on commercially available components that is able to perform multiple tasks.

Pit Viper C104 FY02 Highlights (mpg video clip 189MB)
Pit Viper C104 FY02 Overview (mpg video clip 43MB)
Pit Viper Poster (jpg 128kb)
Pit Viper Remote Pit Operations Presentation (pdf 686kb)
Pit Viper Tool Testing (wmv video clip)
Into Tank Farm Weekly (mpg video clip 2MB)
Tank Farm Camera Assembly (mpg video clip 1.5MB)
Tank Farm Camera Sleeving (mpg video clip 2.7MB)
Tank Farm Dry Run - 2X Fast (mpg video clip 9.1MB)
Tank Farm Into Tent - 5X Fast (mpg video clip 4.7MB)
Pit Viper Day 1 Deployment (mpg video clip 32.5MB)
Pit Viper Day 2 Deployment (mpg video clip 55.4MB)
Pit Viper Day 3 Deployment (mpg video clip 44.9MB)
Pit Viper Deployment Poster (pdf 62kb)
Pit Viper Hammer Poster (pdf 69kb)
Cybernetix (animation) (mpg video clip 2.0MB)
Debris removal (mpg video clip 4.6MB)
Post Demonstration Inspection (mpg video clip 2.3MB)
Foam removal (mpg video clip 4.9MB)
Grinder (mpg video clip 1MB)
Packing and Installation, Water Knife and Washing, Debris Removal (and more) (mpg video clip 47.7MB)
Sweeper (mpg video clip 1.4MB)

Project Contact: S. Bailey