Observation of ionic sodium uranate precursors in a laser simulation of the conditions inside the bubble formed in an HCDA of an LMFBR

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6703456

Zanotelli, W A; Craven, S M; Hercules, D M; Miller, G D; Modderman, W E; Novak, F

The conditions inside the bubble formed in a hypothetical core disruptive accident (HCDA) of a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor have been simulated with a LAMMA 500 laser microprobe mass analyzer. Results for Na/sub 2/U/sub 2/O/sub 7/ show that negative diuranate and positive sodium uranate ions are produced. Higher laser powers favor greater fragmentation to U/sup +/, (UO)/sup +/, and (UO/sub 2/)/sup +/. The Na/sub 2/O/UO/sub 2/ results indicate vapor phase reactions result in the formation of positive and negative sodium uranate ion intermediates. Positive hydrogen ions are observed in some spectra. Higher laser energies (higher HCDA temperatures) favor sodium uranate ion formation. These data support the view that sodium uranate ionic precursors are formed in the vapor phase, bubble, of a simulated HCDA reaction. A prior argon-ionexcited secondary ion mass spectroscopy investigation of Na/sub 2/O/UO/sub 2/ and Na/sub 2/U/sub 2/O/sub 7/ showed no sodium uranate species, only the formation of U/sup +/, (UO)/sup +/, and (UO/sub 2/)/sup +/.

• Research Organization: Monsanto Research Corporation, Mound Facility, Miamisburg, Ohio
• OSTI ID: 6703456
• Journal Information: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 85:1; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ARGON IONS
BREEDER REACTORS
BUBBLE GROWTH
BUBBLES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
HYDROGEN IONS
IONS
KINETICS
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MECHANICS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION INTERMEDIATES
REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR CORE DISRUPTION
REACTORS
SIMULATION
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM IONS
SODIUM URANATES
SPECTROSCOPY
URANATES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM IONS
URANIUM OXIDES