Ventilating-air change rate versus particulate contaminant spread
- ed.
This study provides information on the spread of particulate contamination from glovebox leaks in plutonium manufacturing facilities, with emphasis on the effect of ventilating-air change rate on contaminated spread. A new, very sensitive aerosol tracer technique was developed to simulate plutonium aerosol leaks and its dispersion in a room. The tracer, a submicron aerosol of phloroglucinol, does not interfere with work activity and is detected by its ability to form ice crystals in a supercooled cloud. This technique was applied in Buildings 371 and 707 plutonium production areas. The tracer spread throughout the rooms in a few minutes and reached its equilibrium concentration in 10 to 25 min. Also, to clear the room of all tracer took about the same time. In one room, tracer concentration decreased proportionally to the air change rate, while in the second one, air change rate had no effect. This points out the need for air velocity data. Also, future work must include simultaneous particle concentration measurements at several points. 4 refs., 9 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International Corp., Golden, CO (United States). Rocky Flats Plant
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP03533
- OSTI ID:
- 5381349
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-4154; ON: DE88006977
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tracking Radioactive Isotopes in HVAC and Application for Hot Cell Analyses - 20155
Dispersion model for airborne particulates inside a building
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GLOVEBOXES
VENTILATION
PARTICULATES
DISPERSIONS
PLUTONIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
AEROSOLS
AIR FLOW
CONTAMINATION
DETECTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ACTINIDES
COLLOIDS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
PARTICLES
SOLS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
500101 - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (-1989)