Furnace System Testing to Support Lower-Temperature Stabilization of High Chloride Plutonium Oxide Items at the Hanford Plutonium Finishing Plant
High chloride content plutonium (HCP) oxides are impure plutonium oxide scrap which contains NaCl, KCl, MgCl2 and/or CaCl2 salts at potentially high concentrations and must be stabilized at 950 C per the DOE Standard, DOE-STD-3013-2000. The chlorides pose challenges to stabilization because volatile chloride salts and decomposition products can corrode furnace heating elements and downstream ventilation components. Thermal stabilization of HCP items at 750 C (without water washing) is being investigated as an alternative method for meeting the intent of DOE STD 3013-2000. This report presents the results from a series of furnace tests conducted to develop material balance and system operability data for supporting the evaluation of lower-temperature thermal stabilization.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15010201
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-14245; EY4049110
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
chlorides
chloride salts
corrosion
DOE-STD-30313-2000
furnace
high chloride plutonium oxides
Hanford
HCP
material balance
moisture uptake
muffle furnace
Nuclear Materials Stabilization Project
Plutonium Finishing Plant
PFP
plutonium
plutonium oxides
plutonium scrap
offgas
storage
thermal stabilization