Interaction of DOE SNF and Packaging Materials

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5853· OSTI ID:5853

Anderson, P A

A sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify and evaluate potential destructive interactions between the materials in US Department of Energy (USDOE) spent nuclear fuels (SNFs) and their storage/disposal canisters. The technical assessment was based on the thermodynamic properties as well as the chemical and physical characteristics of the materials expected inside the canisters. No chemical reactions were disclosed that could feasibly corrode stainless steel canisters to the point of failure. However, the possibility of embrittlement (loss of ductility) of the stainless steel through contact with liquid metal fission products or hydrogen inside the canisters cannot be dismissed. Higher-than-currently-permitted internal gas pressures must also be considered. These results, based on the assessment of two representative 90-year-cooled fuels that are stored at 200°C in stainless steel canisters with internal blankets of helium, may be applied to most of the fuels in the USDOE's SNF inventory.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 5853
• Report Number(s): DOE/SNF/REP-020; ON: DE00005853
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
40 CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Thermodynamic Properties
Embrittlement
Hydrogen
Sensitivity Analysis
thermodynamic properties
chemical characteristics
physical characteristics
stainless steel canisters
embrittlement
liquid metal fission products
hydrogen
sensitivity analysis
destructive interactions
spent nuclear fuels
storage/disposal canisters