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Title: In-situ zeolite drying

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5387004· OSTI ID:5387004

The use of warm, dry air is a viable method by which SDS liner zeolites may be dried. The method is simple, easily adaptable to storage pool use, and may be used without insulation between the liner and the pool water. It is signficant that only very small amounts of hydrogen are apparently generated during irradiation of dried zeolites (approx. 3.3 wt. % H/sub 2/O) in a /sup 60/Co source with a dose of 8 x 10/sup 6/ rad, an order of magnitude higher than the average flux calculated for a high-activity SDS liner (approx. 60,000 Ci of Cs and Sr). Irradiation with /sup 60/Co gamma does not entirely duplicate the exposure of dried zeolite loaded with radioactive Cs and Sr, but only small differences in gas yields would be expected. An upper limit to the hydrogen produced may be calculated using reported radiolysis hydrogen yields. Using a G/sub H/sub 2// value of 0.015 for zeolite loaded to 60,000 Ci of Cs and Sr and 3 wt. % water, calculations indicate the total H/sub 2/ generation in an unvented liner after 14 days (maximum shipping time from TMI to PNL) would be approx. 13 L. Based on these data, the system described for the in-situ drying of the zeolite contained in SDS liners is an acceptable method to prepare the zeolite for shipment under existing regulations. 4 figures, 4 tables.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
5387004
Report Number(s):
GEND-INF-048; ON: DE84006122
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English