Estimate of Evaporation of Uranium in Vacuum Melt Casting Systems
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
In this document we make estimates of Uranium vapor production rates and the mass of Uranium in the vapor state during operation of a casting furnace. The information provided here is based upon the reference document: Basic Physics of Vacuum Evaporation of Uranium with a Conventional or Advanced Melt Heating System, T. A. Shepp, LLNL Document CODT – 2011-xxxx We assume that the melting furnace designs may include heated melts in a container with walls at a lower temperature than the melt surface and other systems with melts contained within a container at the same temperature as the melt. We assume that both systems operate in a vacuum environment. In the first case the Uranium vapor produced at the melt surface flows from the melt to the walls where it is collected as a solid or liquid depending upon the wall temperature, In this case the Uranium vapor exists in a non-equilibrium condition. The vapor expands from the melt surface and changes in pressure, density, temperature as well as atomic excitation. Under these circumstances an ideal gas law does not provide a complete picture. For the uniform temperature case the ideal gas law can give good information on the state of the vapor. For both cases we would like to determine an upper limit estimate of the amount of Uranium in the vapor state at any time. In the event of a breach of the containment it may also be of interest to determine the production of vapor as the melt system cools. Other vapor interactions involving a breach such as limited leaking and chemical reactions with the atmosphere all tend to limit the propagation of the vapor to occupied areas.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48; AC52-07NA27344
- OSTI ID:
- 1117927
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-TR-491901
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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