Evaporator
Campaigns
The 242-A Evaporator is located in the 200 East Area of the Hanford Site and is critical to the safe management of Hanford's tank waste. It began operating in 1977 to reduce the volume of waste stored in Hanford's underground tanks by removing water from the waste. If the waste is acceptable for processing, the waste is pumped into the evaporator from nearby double-shell tanks via double-walled underground transfer lines. It goes into a sealed vessel where atmospheric pressure is reduced and steam heat is applied, boiling the waste at only 125 degrees F., much lower than it would under normal pressure. When the waste reaches a designated thickness, called specific gravity, the waste is transferred to a double-shell tank for storage.
Below please find the current list of all the items related to the Evaporator and evaporator campaigns available on this website.