Low-energy degassing mechanisms for a fluid-based radioxenon detection system
- Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States). Dept. of Mechanical, Industrial and Nuclear Engineering
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Reactor Analysis Div.
A method to concentrate heavy noble gases from the atmosphere using certain organic fluids is being developed. To use this technique in a system to monitor the atmosphere for important noble gas fission products (Xe-131, Xe-131m, Xe-133, Xe-133m, and Xe-135) generated by nuclear testing, the radionuclides captured in the fluid must either be detected in the fluid or degassed. This study presents experimental results for a number of possible degassing methods, including heating bubbling with a purge gas, ultrasonic agitation, vacuum, and combinations thereof. Methods were evaluated for energy and time requirements and dilution of the degas product. Initial experiments indicate that in addition to overcoming the standard desorption process dictated by partial pressures per Henry`s Law, a capture mechanism must also be overcome to degas. Some type of agitation, thermal or mechanical, can be used to release weakly trapped gas atoms from the fluid, while diffusional mass transfer can be enhanced through entrainment with a purge gas or use of a vacuum. Ultrasonic agitation of a thin film in a strong vacuum has been shown to be the most effective method of those tested. Implementation of an efficient degas system, along with an absorption system and radioxenon detector could result in an ultrasensitive fluid-based radioxenon measurement system that is more portable, less expensive, and simpler than charcoal-based systems which use cryogenic techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., Reactor Analysis Div., IL (United States); Univ. of Cincinnati, Dept. of Mechanical, Industrial and Nuclear Engineering, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38; FG07-97ER62521
- OSTI ID:
- 290811
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/RA/CP-96696; CONF-980920-; ON: DE98058389; TRN: AHC29901%%15
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 20. annual seismic research symposium on monitoring a comprehensive test ban treaty, Santa Fe, NM (United States), 21-23 Sep 1998; Other Information: PBD: [1998]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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