Relative humidity threshold for oxygen generation by high-purity plutonium dioxides in 3013 containers
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
High-purity plutonium dioxide with adsorbed water in a sealed container can generate oxygen, but oxygen will not be generated in low water loading conditions. A threshold for oxygen generation has been observed in the hydrogen generation rate normalized by the specific power for high-purity plutonium dioxide. Normalized hydrogen generation rates above this threshold generate oxygen and below the threshold consume oxygen. The threshold rate is determined by the amount of water adsorbed onto the surface of the oxide. The relative humidity of the atmosphere that the oxide is in equilibrium with determines the amount of physisorbed water adsorbed on the surface. We calculate the relative humidity corresponding to the threshold rate as a function of mass and specific surface area of material stored in 3013 containers. Exceeding the calculated relative humidity may result in flammable gas mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen at some time during storage.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
- DOE Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 2204160
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--23-30268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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