Scoping experimental analysis of factors affecting cask contamination weeping

Conference · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6306301

Bennett, P C; Rutherford, B M ^[1]; Kunze, J F ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
2. Missouri Univ., Columbia, MO (USA)

One issue of particular concern to both the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) involves the control of in-transit weeping' of surface contamination on pool-loaded spent fuel transportation casks. Weeping is the release of semi-fixed radioactive particulates from an exterior surface of a transportation cask some time after removal from a fuel pool. Effective prevention requires an understanding of the physical processes and the determination of related parameters which contribute to the weeping phenomenon. A program is underway at Sandia Laboratories to experimentally address the following goals: induce weeping under controlled conditions; isolate and identify what contaminants adsorption and release; and provide a basis for the development of decontamination or contaminant blocking methods to prevent weeping. The first set of experiments, reported herein, concentrated on inducing weeping, isolating and identifying the contaminants, and scoping macroscopic variables affecting weeping. a second series of tests is underway to characterize bonding and release mechanisms, and to suggest effective decontamination means. 4 refs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/RW
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6306301
• Report Number(s): SAND-90-2249C-Extd.Abst.; TTC--1014-Extd.Abst.; CONF-910435--8-Extd.Abst.; ON: DE91000042
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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SPECTROSCOPY
SPENT FUEL CASKS
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SURFACE CONTAMINATION
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US DOE
US ERDA
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YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
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