Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103

Rassat, S D; Gauglitz, P A; Bredt, P R; Mahoney, L A; Forbes, S V; Tingey, S M

doi:10.2172/555249

Title: Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103

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Abstract

The 177 storage tanks at Hanford contain a vast array of radioactive waste forms resulting, primarily, from nuclear materials processing. Through radiolytic, thermal, and other decomposition reactions of waste components, gaseous species including hydrogen, ammonia, and the oxidizer nitrous oxide are generated within the waste tanks. Many of these tanks are known to retain and periodically release quantities of these flammable gas mixtures. The primary focus of the Flammable Gas Project is the safe storage of Hanford tank wastes. To this end, we strive to develop an understanding of the mechanisms of flammable gas retention and release in Hanford tanks through laboratory investigations on actual tank wastes. These results support the closure of the Flammable Gas Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) on the safe storage of waste tanks known to retain flammable gases and support resolution of the broader Flammable Gas Safety Issue. The overall purpose of this ongoing study is to develop a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the mechanisms of flammable gas retention and release. The first objective of the current study was to classify bubble retention and release mechanisms in two previously untested waste materials from Tanks 241-AN-103 (AN-103) and 241-AW-101 (AW-101). Results were obtained for retention mechanisms,more »« less

Authors:: Rassat, S D; Gauglitz, P A; Bredt, P R; Mahoney, L A; Forbes, S V; Tingey, S M

Publication Date:: Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997

Research Org.:: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 555249

Report Number(s):: PNNL-11642
ON: DE97054436; TRN: 98:008816

DOE Contract Number:: AC06-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Resource Relation:: Other Information: PBD: Sep 1997

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; HANFORD RESERVATION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND STORAGE; TANKS; REMEDIAL ACTION; VAPORS; HYDROGEN; AMMONIA; NITROUS OXIDE

Citation Formats


                    Rassat, S D, Gauglitz, P A, Bredt, P R, Mahoney, L A, Forbes, S V, and Tingey, S M. Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103.  United States: N. p., 1997. 
        Web.  doi:10.2172/555249.

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                    Rassat, S D, Gauglitz, P A, Bredt, P R, Mahoney, L A, Forbes, S V, & Tingey, S M. Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/555249

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                    Rassat, S D, Gauglitz, P A, Bredt, P R, Mahoney, L A, Forbes, S V, and Tingey, S M. 1997.  
        "Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/555249.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/555249.

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@article{osti_555249,

  title        = {Mechanisms of gas retention and release: Experimental results for Hanford waste tanks 241-AW-101 and 241-AN-103},

  author       = {Rassat, S D and Gauglitz, P A and Bredt, P R and Mahoney, L A and Forbes, S V and Tingey, S M},

  abstractNote = {The 177 storage tanks at Hanford contain a vast array of radioactive waste forms resulting, primarily, from nuclear materials processing. Through radiolytic, thermal, and other decomposition reactions of waste components, gaseous species including hydrogen, ammonia, and the oxidizer nitrous oxide are generated within the waste tanks. Many of these tanks are known to retain and periodically release quantities of these flammable gas mixtures. The primary focus of the Flammable Gas Project is the safe storage of Hanford tank wastes. To this end, we strive to develop an understanding of the mechanisms of flammable gas retention and release in Hanford tanks through laboratory investigations on actual tank wastes. These results support the closure of the Flammable Gas Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) on the safe storage of waste tanks known to retain flammable gases and support resolution of the broader Flammable Gas Safety Issue. The overall purpose of this ongoing study is to develop a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the mechanisms of flammable gas retention and release. The first objective of the current study was to classify bubble retention and release mechanisms in two previously untested waste materials from Tanks 241-AN-103 (AN-103) and 241-AW-101 (AW-101). Results were obtained for retention mechanisms, release characteristics, and the maximum gas retention. In addition, unique behavior was also documented and compared with previously studied waste samples. The second objective was to lengthen the duration of the experiments to evaluate the role of slowing bubble growth on the retention and release behavior. Results were obtained for experiments lasting from a few hours to a few days.},

  doi          = {10.2172/555249},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/555249},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997},

  month        = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997}

}

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