Even as Hanford site workers began transforming a small fraction of the millions of gallons of tank waste into a stable glass form this fall, they’ve also begun efforts to extend the life of tanks to support that long-term effort.

Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, or H2C, recently introduced a new advanced metal coating technology that applies a metal powder at supersonic speed to strengthen tank surfaces, according to a release.

The application process involves workers using a remotely-controlled robot to apply a 7-by-16-inch metal patch between the primary and secondary walls of a double-shell tank. Testing has indicated that the new technology has the potential to extend tank service life.

“Incorporating cold spray technology into our toolkit is crucial for maintaining these large, underground tanks as we prepare to turn tank waste into glass,” said Erik Nelson, Hanford Field Office Tank and Pipeline Integrity program manager. “Extending the lifespan of these tanks is vital to our cleanup mission."

H2C will eventually be the operator of Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant, known as the vitrification plant, which will treat all the waste stored in the site’s underground tanks. That facility is currently undergoing hot commissioning, which involves feeding tank waste through its systems, by its designer and builder, Bechtel National.