Radiolytic and Thermal Process Relevant to Dry Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuels
This project involves basic research in chemistry and physics aimed at providing information pertinent to the safe long-term dry storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), thousands of tons of which remain in water storage across the DOE complex. The Hanford Site K-Basins alone hold 2300 tons of spent fuel, much of it severely corroded, and similar situations exist at Savannah River and Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. DOE plans to remove this fuel and seal it in overpack canisters for ''dry'' interim storage for up to 75 years while awaiting permanent disposition. Chemically bound water will remain in this fuel even after the proposed drying steps, leading to possible long-term corrosion of the containers and/or fuel rods themselves, generation of H2 and O2 gas via radiolysis (which could lead to deflagration or detonation), and reactions of pyrophoric uranium hydrides. No thoroughly tested model is now available to predict fuel behavior during preprocessing, processing, or storage. In a collaborative effort among Rutgers University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, we are studying the radiolytic reaction, drying processes, and corrosion behavior of actual SNF materials and of pure and mixed-phase samples. We propose to determine what is omitted from current models: radiolysis of water adsorbed on or in hydrates or hydroxides, thermodynamics of interfacial phases, and kinetics of drying. A model will be developed and tested against actual fuel rod behavior to ensure validity and applicability to the problems associated with developing dry storage strategies for DOE-owned SNF.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA; Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY; Laboratory for Surface Modification Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-97ER14833
- OSTI ID:
- 831158
- Report Number(s):
- EMSP-60392-1999; R&D Project: EMSP 60392; TRN: US0405643
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Jun 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Radiolytic and thermal process relevant to dry storage of spent nuclear fuels. 1998 annual progress report
Technology Development for Dry Storage of Aluminum-Clad Spent Nuclear Fuel - 20490
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
DRY STORAGE
DRYING
FUEL RODS
HYDRATES
HYDROXIDES
KINETICS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PROCESSING
RADIOLYSIS
SPENT FUELS
STORAGE
THERMODYNAMICS
URANIUM HYDRIDES
WASTE STORAGE