DISPOSAL OF OMR HIGH BOILERS BY COMBUSTION

Technical Report · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1961

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4817845· OSTI ID:4817845

Stiens, R R

Under the influence of radiation, the coolant-moderator in an organic moderated reactor slowly decomposes to form high molecular weight polymers (high boilers) and a mixture of gases and light hydrocarbons as waste products. Work carried out on the improvement and subsequent operation of a prototype waste- polymer combustion process is described. Operation of the improved unit employing a vortex'' burner confirmed the feasibility of combustion as a disposal method. It was determined that fuel temperatures of 400 deg F and combustion air temperatures of 300 deg F were required for successful operation. The quantity of ash resulting from the combustion was established to be less than 0.5 wt% of the original polymer. It was determined that the efficiency of the primary dust collector varied from approximately 90 to 99%, and that there was no detectable particulate matter in the gas leaving the absolute filter. Attempted activity-balance calculations proved unsuccessful due to extreme difficulties in measurement of the low-level activty of the stack gas. In an effort to further improve and simplify the process system, preliminary evaluation of another burner was carried out. A cost estimate of the combustion process using the Vortex'' burner was prepared, based on data obtained from the Piqua, Ohio, organic reactor power plant design, and operating data from the current combustion prototype. Results indicated a net cost of 1.8 cent/lb for burning the polymer in a Piqua- size plant. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International. Div. of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-16-002684
• OSTI ID: 4817845
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-5410
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
CLEANING
COMBUSTION
CONTAMINATION
COOLANT LOOPS
DECOMPOSITION
DUSTS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EQUATIONS
FAILURES
FILTERS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
IMPURITIES
IRRADIATION
MEASURED VALUES
MOLECULES
OMR
ORGANIC COOLANT
ORGANIC MODERATOR
PIQUA OMR
PLANNING
POLYMERIZATION
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVITY
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REPROCESSING
RESIDUES
STABILITY
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE PROCESSING