Evaluation of source-term data for plutonium aerosolization

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7257129

Haschke, J M

Relevant data are reviewed and evaluated in an effort to define the time dependence and maximum value of the source term for plutonium aerosolization during a fuel fire. The rate of plutonium oxidation at high temperatures is a major determinant of the time dependence. Analysis of temperature-time data for oxidation of plutonium shows that the rate is constant (0.2 g PUO{sub 2}/cm{sup 2} of metal surface per min) and independent of temperature above 500{degrees}C. Total mass and particle distributions are derived for oxide products formed by reactions of plutonium metal and hydride. The mass distributions for products of all metal-gas reactions are remarkably similar with approximately 0.07 mass% of the oxide particles having geometric diameters {le} 10 {mu}m. In comparison, 25 mass% of the oxide formed by the PuH{sub 2}+O{sub 2} reaction is in this range. Experimental values of mass fractions released during oxidation are evaluated and factors that alter the release fraction are discussed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7257129
• Report Number(s): LA-12315-MS; ON: DE92040908
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
PLUTONIUM
OXIDATION
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
PLUTONIUM HYDRIDES
DISTRIBUTION
FIRES
PARTICLE SIZE
SOURCE TERMS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
SIZE
SOLS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
050400* - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing
400800 - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry