Greenhouse Warming Potential of Candidate Gaseous Diffusion Plant Coolants

Technical Report · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5930243· OSTI ID:5930243

Trowbridge, Lee D. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

A preliminary estimate has been made of the greenhouse warming potential (GWP) of coolants under consideration as substitutes for CFC-114 in the gaseous diffusion plants. Coolants are not at present regulated on the basis of GWP, but may well be in the future. Use of c-C₄F₈ or n-C₄F₁₀ is estimated to have three to four times the greenhouse impact of an equivalent use of CFC-114. Neither of the substitutes, of course, would cause any ozone depletion. HCFC-124 (a probable commercial substitute for CFC-114, but not presently under serious consideration due to its relatively high UF₆ reactivity) would have much less greenhouse and ozone depletion impact than CFC-114. The GWP estimates derive from a simple model that approximately reproduces literature values for similar compounds. The major uncertainty in these estimates lies in the atmospheric lifetime, especially of the perfluorocarbon compounds, for which little reliable information exists. In addition to GWP estimates for coolants, the overall greenhouse impact of the gaseous diffusion plants is calculated, including indirect power-related CO₂ emissions. This result is used to compare greenhouse impacts of nuclear- and coal-produced electricity.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OT21400
• OSTI ID: 5930243
• Report Number(s): K/ETO--50; ON: DE91009986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FREONS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
LAYERS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE LAYER
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT