Modifications to HGSYSTEM to account for UF{sub 6} chemistry and thermodynamics
- EARTH/TECH/Sigma Research Corp., Concord, MA (United States)
Uranium hexafluoride (UF{sub 6}) flashes to a mixture of vapor and solid particles when accidentally released to the atmosphere after storage as a liquid at elevated pressure and temperature. The particles evaporate, cooling the mixture. The UF{sub 6} gas, which is very dense, reacts with water vapor to form HF and UO{sub 2}F{sub 2}, heating the plume. The HF continues to react with water vapor, further releasing heat within the plume. The resulting three-phase plume can alternate from negative to positive buoyancy. Because the HGSYSTEM model accounts for a wide variety of source types (instantaneous, transient, or continuous jets, pools, or volume sources) and includes HF chemistry and thermodynamics, it was chosen as a platform for modeling UF{sub 6}. The physical and chemical characteristics of the UF{sub 6} plume are derived in a series of modules, which are incorporated in HGSYSTEM. The method of solution of the full set of time-variable equations (chemistry, thermodynamics, and entrainment) is shown. The modeling system is described, and the results of comparisons with independent solutions are presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 287567
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950927--; ISBN 0-8169-0660-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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