Radiogenic gases and drum pressures associated with TRU waste storage

Technical Report · Fri Feb 10 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5193213

Hoy, J E

Federal regulations require that solid waste contaminated with TRU nuclides > or = to 10 nCi/g be packaged in containers that can be retrieved free of surface contamination for a period of twenty years. At the Savannah River Plant, galvanized 55-gallon steel drums (DOT 17C), with a 90-mil polyethylene liner, are employed as the primary container for most of such waste. A series of tests was designed to verify adequacy of the SRP storage mode. Results after two years are reported for a test in which radiogenic gas composition and pressures were monitored in four typical SRP waste drums and one typical waste culvert. These results indicate that radiogenic gases should not cause breach of containment during storage. All four test drums have exhibited positive internal pressures up to four psig. Pressures have fluctuated considerably. All four drum atmospheres were depleted in oxygen and enriched in hydrogen and CO/sub 2/, relative to air. After nearly two years none of the drums contained a flammable mixture of hydrogen and oxygen; however, one drum atmosphere was flammable for a 58-day interval which began 142 days after drum closure. Air in the concrete culvert containing the drums became only slightly pressurized (0.1 psig) and has shown only trace quantities of CO/sub 2/ and hydrocarbons (no hydrogen).

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, S.C. (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5193213
• Report Number(s): DPST-78-245
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONTAINERS
CONTAINMENT
ELEMENTS
GASEOUS WASTES
LINERS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
PRESSURIZING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
STORAGE
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES