CSER 99-003 Rev. 1 Criticality Mass of Uranium as Compared to Plutonium-Implications for PFP Processing Uranium

Technical Report · Thu Jun 28 04:00:00 EDT 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/807147· OSTI ID:807147

Erickson, D. G. ^[1]; Greenborg, J. ^[2]

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1. Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc., Richland, WA (United States); FFS
2. Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc., Richland, WA (United States)

The purpose of this report is to provide information to be used in the evaluation of the CSER and CPS for equipment and activities involved in thermal stabilization. It is well known that for equal mass, ²³⁹Pu is more reactive than ²³⁵U except at fissile material concentrations of 100 g/L to 1,000 g/L. In this range of concentrations, spheres of highly enriched 94% uranium have a lower critical mass than spheres of ²³⁹Pu. Within these same limits, infinite cylinders of highly enriched uranium (²³⁵U in ²³⁸U) have a smaller critical diameter than infinite cylinders of ²³⁹Pu. This report determines the fissile concentrations between which ²³⁹Pu is more reactive than uranium (²³⁵U in ²³⁸U). The information can be used for the revision of CSERs and CPS's to allow processing uranium using limits developed for plutonium.

• Research Organization: Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-96RL13200
• OSTI ID: 807147
• Report Number(s): HNF--4436-Rev.1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
CPS
CRITICAL MASS
CRITICALITY
CSER
EVALUATION
FISSILE MATERIALS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PLUTONIUM
PROCESSING
STABILIZATION
URANIUM