A model of gas generation and transport within TRU (transuranic) waste drums

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6206217

Smith, III, F G

Gas generation from the radiolytic decomposition of organic material contaminated with plutonium is modeled. Concentrations of gas throughout the waste drum are determined using a diffusional transport model. The model accurately reproduces experimentally measured gas concentrations. With polyethylene waste in unvented drums, the model predicts that hydrogen gas can accumulate to concentrations greater than 4 mole percent (lower flammable limit) with about 5 Ci of plutonium. Polyethylene provides a worst case for combustible waste material. If the drum liner is punctured and a carbon composite filter vent is installed in the drum lid, the plutonium loading can be increased to 240 Ci without generating flammable gas mixtures. 5 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 6206217
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-86-213; CONF-870306-63; ON: DE87013044
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
CASKS
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTAINERS
DECOMPOSITION
DIFFUSION
ELEMENTS
FLAMMABILITY
GAS PRODUCTION RATES
HYDROGEN
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLUTONIUM
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOLYSIS
SAFETY
SIMULATION
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
VENTILATION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES