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Title: DUSCOBS - a depleted-uranium silicate backfill for transport, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

A Depleted Uranium Silicate COntainer Backfill System (DUSCOBS) is proposed that would use small, isotopically-depleted uranium silicate glass beads as a backfill material inside storage, transport, and repository waste packages containing spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The uranium silicate glass beads would fill all void space inside the package including the coolant channels inside SNF assemblies. Based on preliminary analysis, the following benefits have been identified. DUSCOBS improves repository waste package performance by three mechanisms. First, it reduces the radionuclide releases from SNF when water enters the waste package by creating a local uranium silicate saturated groundwater environment that suppresses (1) the dissolution and/or transformation of uranium dioxide fuel pellets and, hence, (2) the release of radionuclides incorporated into the SNF pellets. Second, the potential for long-term nuclear criticality is reduced by isotopic exchange of enriched uranium in SNF with the depleted uranium (DU) in the glass. Third, the backfill reduces radiation interactions between SNF and the local environment (package and local geology) and thus reduces generation of hydrogen, acids, and other chemicals that degrade the waste package system. In addition, the DUSCOBS improves the integrity of the package by acting as a packing material and ensures criticality control for themore » package during SNF storage and transport. Finally, DUSCOBS provides a potential method to dispose of significant quantities of excess DU from uranium enrichment plants at potential economic savings. DUSCOBS is a new concept. Consequently, the concept has not been optimized or demonstrated in laboratory experiments.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
245581
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-13045
ON: DE96011586; TRN: 96:014651
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 30 Nov 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; DEPLETED URANIUM; USES; SPENT FUELS; PACKAGING; SPENT FUEL STORAGE; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; BACKFILLING; URANIUM SILICATES

Citation Formats

Forsberg, C W, Pope, R B, Ashline, R C, DeHart, M D, Childs, K W, and Tang, J S. DUSCOBS - a depleted-uranium silicate backfill for transport, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.2172/245581.
Forsberg, C W, Pope, R B, Ashline, R C, DeHart, M D, Childs, K W, & Tang, J S. DUSCOBS - a depleted-uranium silicate backfill for transport, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/245581
Forsberg, C W, Pope, R B, Ashline, R C, DeHart, M D, Childs, K W, and Tang, J S. 1995. "DUSCOBS - a depleted-uranium silicate backfill for transport, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/245581. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/245581.
@article{osti_245581,
title = {DUSCOBS - a depleted-uranium silicate backfill for transport, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel},
author = {Forsberg, C W and Pope, R B and Ashline, R C and DeHart, M D and Childs, K W and Tang, J S},
abstractNote = {A Depleted Uranium Silicate COntainer Backfill System (DUSCOBS) is proposed that would use small, isotopically-depleted uranium silicate glass beads as a backfill material inside storage, transport, and repository waste packages containing spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The uranium silicate glass beads would fill all void space inside the package including the coolant channels inside SNF assemblies. Based on preliminary analysis, the following benefits have been identified. DUSCOBS improves repository waste package performance by three mechanisms. First, it reduces the radionuclide releases from SNF when water enters the waste package by creating a local uranium silicate saturated groundwater environment that suppresses (1) the dissolution and/or transformation of uranium dioxide fuel pellets and, hence, (2) the release of radionuclides incorporated into the SNF pellets. Second, the potential for long-term nuclear criticality is reduced by isotopic exchange of enriched uranium in SNF with the depleted uranium (DU) in the glass. Third, the backfill reduces radiation interactions between SNF and the local environment (package and local geology) and thus reduces generation of hydrogen, acids, and other chemicals that degrade the waste package system. In addition, the DUSCOBS improves the integrity of the package by acting as a packing material and ensures criticality control for the package during SNF storage and transport. Finally, DUSCOBS provides a potential method to dispose of significant quantities of excess DU from uranium enrichment plants at potential economic savings. DUSCOBS is a new concept. Consequently, the concept has not been optimized or demonstrated in laboratory experiments.},
doi = {10.2172/245581},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/245581}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Thu Nov 30 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}