Low Temperature Spent Fuel Oxidation Under Tuff Repository Conditions

Technical Report · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/59351· OSTI ID:59351

Einziger, R. E. ^[1]; Woodley, R. E. ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)

The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project is studying the suitability of tuffaceous rocks at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, for high level waste disposal. The oxidation state of LWR spent fuel in a tuff repository may be a significant factor in determining its ability to inhibit radionuclide migration. Long term exposure at low temperatures to the moist air expected in a tuff repository is expected to increase the oxidation state of the fuel. A program is underway to determine the spent fuel oxidation mechanisms which might be active in a tuff repository. Initial work involves a series of TGA experiments to determine the effectiveness of the technique and to obtain preliminary oxidation data. Tests were run at 200° and 225°C for as long as 720 hours. Grain boundary diffusion appears to open up a greater surface area for oxidation prior to onset of bulk diffusion. Temperature strongly influences the oxidation rates. The effect of moisture is small but readily measurable. 25 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76FF02170
• OSTI ID: 59351
• Report Number(s): HEDL-SA--3271-FP; CONF-850314--76; ON: DE85018477
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
DIFFUSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MOISTURE
OXIDATION
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SIMULATION
SITE SELECTION
SPENT FUELS
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
TIME DEPENDENCE
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM DIOXIDE
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project