Electromagnetic launcher studies of breakup and aerosol formation in molten uranium alloy
An understanding of dispersal of nuclear materials from an explosive event is needed to support design studies of weapon storage and transportation. Assessing the consequences and requirements for cleanup of a fire or nonnuclear detonation of a system containing nuclear material requires knowledge of the aerosol formation process. Information about the aerosol chemical composition, the physical size and shape of the particulates, as well as the efficiency of aerosol formation ate needed to conduct meaningful assessments. This report describes laboratory tests to study aerosol from materials of interest. An electromagnetic launcher is used to heat and propel molten metallic samples under energetic high-velocity conditions. We describe the apparatus and first results from tests using uranium-molybdenum alloy samples. Contained laboratory-scale measurements are described that determine aerosol morphology, chemical composition, and aerosol formation efficiency under high-velocity conditions. Data from the launcher tests describe (1) the aerodynamic breakup process of high-velocity molten liquid into droplets, and (2) the formation of still finer aerosols by combustion of these droplets at high velocity. The measurements show efficient aerosol production in air that is dominated by the formation of fine chain-agglomerate combustion aerosol. Particle morphology information for both the chain agglomerate and the less common liquid breakup products is described. The aerodynamic breakup of the liquid sample material is described. Lognormal distributions are shown to accurately represent the data. The geometric mean diameter is related to the mass mean diameter and maximum stable droplet diameter for the distributions. 28 refs., 27 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/MA
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 7196005
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-0021; ON: DE90007952
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AEROSOLS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS
HEALTH HAZARDS
CONTAINERS
DESIGN
LAUNCHING
ELECTROMAGNETISM
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
ACCIDENTS
AERODYNAMICS
COMBUSTION KINETICS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DAMAGE
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EMERGENCY PLANS
FIRE HAZARDS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FORECASTING
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING METHODS
MELTING
OXIDATION
PARTICULATES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SAMPLING
STABILITY
STORAGE
STRENGTH FUNCTIONS
TEST FACILITIES
TRANSPORT
VALIDATION
VAPORS
VARIATIONS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONS
GASES
HAZARDS
KINETICS
MAGNETISM
MECHANICS
MICROSCOPY
PARTICLES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
REACTION KINETICS
SOLS
TESTING
WEAPONS
450200* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
400800 - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry