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Title: Standard and modified electrode engineering-scale in situ vitrification tests

Abstract

This report describes engineering-scale in situ vitrification (ISV) electrode tests conducted by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) for the US Department of Energy (DOE).(a) The purpose of these tests was to establish baseline data to serve as a foundation on which to improve the design of standard graphite rod electrodes, which are currently used in all applications. Changes in electrode design are proposed as one method to increase ISV melt depths that typically reach about 5 m. Melt depths of 10 m are needed to remediate some contaminated soil sites within the DOE complex. To establish baseline data, we performed a thermal distribution analysis and tested three electrode designs: (1) the standard graphite rod electrodes, (2) a modified design referred to as the composite graphite/molybdenum electrode, and (3) a second modified design, the dilated-tip graphite electrode. In total we performed six tests, two of each design. Within the scope of these tests, there were four specific objectives. Our first objective was to determine the influence of electrode design on monolith mass and shape. Our second objective was to determine the correlation between the actual test results and the results of the numerical heat distribution analysis using the TEMPEST code. Our thirdmore » objective was to qualitatively evaluate the melt resistance and the electrode contact resistance that resulted from the three electrode designs. Finally, our fourth objective was to verify the reproducibility of the engineering-scale test results.« less

Authors:
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Geosafe Corp., Richland, WA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
7023669
Report Number(s):
PNL-8294
ON: DE93000479
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; CHEMICAL WASTES; VITRIFICATION; ELECTRODES; DESIGN; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; GRAPHITE; GROUND DISPOSAL; IN-SITU PROCESSING; REMEDIAL ACTION; SOILS; CARBON; ELEMENTAL MINERALS; ELEMENTS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; MINERALS; NONMETALS; NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES; PROCESSING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; SIMULATION; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; 054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety; 052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage

Citation Formats

Thompson, L E, Tixier, J S, and Winkelman, R G. Standard and modified electrode engineering-scale in situ vitrification tests. United States: N. p., 1992. Web. doi:10.2172/7023669.
Thompson, L E, Tixier, J S, & Winkelman, R G. Standard and modified electrode engineering-scale in situ vitrification tests. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/7023669
Thompson, L E, Tixier, J S, and Winkelman, R G. 1992. "Standard and modified electrode engineering-scale in situ vitrification tests". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/7023669. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7023669.
@article{osti_7023669,
title = {Standard and modified electrode engineering-scale in situ vitrification tests},
author = {Thompson, L E and Tixier, J S and Winkelman, R G},
abstractNote = {This report describes engineering-scale in situ vitrification (ISV) electrode tests conducted by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) for the US Department of Energy (DOE).(a) The purpose of these tests was to establish baseline data to serve as a foundation on which to improve the design of standard graphite rod electrodes, which are currently used in all applications. Changes in electrode design are proposed as one method to increase ISV melt depths that typically reach about 5 m. Melt depths of 10 m are needed to remediate some contaminated soil sites within the DOE complex. To establish baseline data, we performed a thermal distribution analysis and tested three electrode designs: (1) the standard graphite rod electrodes, (2) a modified design referred to as the composite graphite/molybdenum electrode, and (3) a second modified design, the dilated-tip graphite electrode. In total we performed six tests, two of each design. Within the scope of these tests, there were four specific objectives. Our first objective was to determine the influence of electrode design on monolith mass and shape. Our second objective was to determine the correlation between the actual test results and the results of the numerical heat distribution analysis using the TEMPEST code. Our third objective was to qualitatively evaluate the melt resistance and the electrode contact resistance that resulted from the three electrode designs. Finally, our fourth objective was to verify the reproducibility of the engineering-scale test results.},
doi = {10.2172/7023669},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7023669}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992},
month = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992}
}