Radionuclide release from PWR fuels in a reference tuff repository groundwater subsquently changed to Radionuclide release from PWR fuels in J-13 well water
The Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations Project (NNWSI) is studying the suitability of the welded devitrified Topopah Spring tuff at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, for potential use as a high level nuclear waste repository. In support of the Waste Package task of NNWSI, tests have been conducted under ambient air environment to measure radionuclide release from two pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent fuels in water obtained from the J-13 well near the Yucca Mountain site. Four specimen types, representing a range of fuel physical conditions that may exist in a failed waste canister containing a limited amount of water were tested. The specimen types were: (1) fuel rod sections split open to expose bare fuel particles; (2) rod sections with water-tight end fittings with a 2.5-cm long by 150-{mu}m wide slit through the cladding; (3) rod sections with water-tight end fittings and two 200-{mu}m diameter holes through the cladding; and (4) undefected rod segments with water-tight end fittings. Radionuclide release results from the first 223-day test runs on H.B. Robinson spent fuel specimens in J-13 water are reported and compared to results from a previous test series in which similar Turkey Point reactor spent fuel specimens were tested in deionized water. Selected initial results are also given for Turkey Point fuel specimens tested in J-13 water. Results suggest that the actinides Pu, Am, Cm and Np are released congruently with U as the UO{sub 2} spent fuel matrix dissolves. Fractional release of {sup 137}Cs and {sup 99}Tc was greater than that measured for the actinides. Generally, lower radionuclide releases were measured for the H.B. Robinson fuel in J-13 water than for Turkey Point Fuel in deionized water.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Coll. of Engineering; Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA; Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 59813
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-850314-Vol.1; ON: TI85015356
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste management `85, Tucson, AZ (United States), 24-28 Mar 1985; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1985; Related Information: Is Part Of Waste management `85: waste isolation in the US, technical programs and public education. Volume 1. Waste policies and programs, high-level waste: proceedings; Post, R.G. (ed.); PB: 497-503 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Results from Cycles 1 and 2 of NNWSI Series 2 spent fuel dissolution tests
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
21 NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
GROUND WATER
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
CRACKS
DEFECTS
LEACHING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
TECHNETIUM 99
TUFF
URANIUM 235
AMERICIUM 241
CESIUM 137
CURIUM 244
Yucca Mountain Project