Milestone 2.7: Evaluation of Techniques for the Measurement of Molecular Hydrogen Gas in Helium Matrices
- Idaho National Laboratory
Published data by Task 2 (Oxyhydroxide Layer Radiolytic Gas Generation Resolution) for Technical Considerations and Challenges for Extended (>50 yrs) Dry Storage of Aluminum Cladded Spent Nuclear Fuel (ASNF), demonstrated that radiolytic molecular hydrogen (H2) production from gamma irradiated aluminum alloy 1100 (Al-1100) coupons exhibited significant dependence on backfill gaseous environment conditions: air, due to the presence of oxygen, completely inhibited H2 production; nitrogen promoted H2 production; and argon yielded more H2 than nitrogen environments. The concern here is that helium has been proposed as the backfill gas for extended storage and is more inert than argon, which may translate into significantly more H2 production than current Task 3 argon-based models predict. However, the measurement of H2 in helium media was not possible using the previously establish gas chromatography (GC) flame ionization detector, due to similarities in thermal conductivity. This milestone was initiated to evaluate an alternative GC approach that employed a mercuric oxide (HgO) reduction gas detector (RGD). Using the HgO RGD setup, H2 was successfully calibrated in the presence of a helium carrier gas, and then subsequently measured in control and irradiated crush-tube sample vials, consistent with previous sample measurements. Overall, the HgO RGD approach was found to be sufficient for future helium environment irradiations.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1698006
- Report Number(s):
- INL/EXT-20-60008-Rev000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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