Depleted uranium dioxide powder flow through very small openings. [In shipping container]

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5568780

Sutter, S L; Johnston, J W; Mishima, J; Owzarski, P C; Schwendiman, L C; Long, G B

Results are presented of experiments that measured the leakage of depleted uranium dioxide (DUO) powder through microorifices in a vessel approximately the same dimensions as a plutonium dioxide shipping container. Leaks were measured as a function of upstream pressure (15 psig to 1000 psig) and above and below the static powder level. An equation was developed to predict powder transmission from leaks using ln (A..sqrt..P) > 10.5 (A = area; P = pressure). Maximum DUO transmission values were calculated for leaks where ln (A..sqrt..P) < 10.5. Conclusions were: (1) diameter was the most important parameter in powder leakage; diameter and pressure were both significant; (2) the duration of a run had no statistically discernible effect on powder transmitted in times ranging to 24 h; (3) the opening orifice or capillary types and location above or below the static powder level affected powder transmission; (4) agitation did not influence the flow from a leak below the static powder level; (5) the amount of powder covering a leak did not affect the leak below the static powder level; (6) leakage below the static powder level maximized at 100 psig for openings less than approximately 100 ..mu..; (7) plugging was a frequent occurrence: 6% of the orifices and 17% of the capillaries plugged immediately upon pressurization (above powder leaks); and (8) efforts to increase the powder leakage by various procedures were unsuccessful. 64 figures, 44 tables.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 5568780
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-1099; PNL-3177; TRN: 80-005579
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
LEAKS
CONTAINERS
DEPLETED URANIUM
LOSSES
OPENINGS
PLUGGING
POWDERS
TRANSPORT
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
URANIUM
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health &amp; Safety
050900 - Nuclear Fuels- Transport
Handling
&amp; Storage