Supercritical-fluid carbon dioxide (SCCO{sub 2}) cleaning of nuclear weapon components
Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCCO{sub 2}) has been evaluated as a cleaning solvent for the cleaning of plutonium (Pu) metal parts. The results of the evaluation show that SCCO{sub 2} is an effective alternative to halogenated solvents that are conventionally used for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from the surface of these parts. The cleaning process was demonstrated at the laboratory scale for steel and uranium substrates and has been found to be compatible with Pu. The efficacy of this cleaning method is found to be dependent on process conditions of pressure, temperature, fluid-flow rate, as well as cleaning time. Process parameters of P > 2,500 psi, T > 40 C, and moderate fluid flow rates, produced good cleaning results in less than 10 minutes using a simple flow-through process configuration. Within the parameter range studied, cleaning efficiency generally improved with increasing process pressure and flow rate. SCCO{sub 2} cleaning is suitable for a variety of component cleaning tasks and is adaptable to precision cleaning requirements. The SCCO{sub 2} cleaning process is currently being developed for deployment for weapons production at LANL.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., Ceramic Science and Technology Group, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 650294
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-97-4420; CONF-980514-; ON: DE98002922; TRN: AHC2DT04%%207
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WAC `98: world automation congress, Anchorage, AK (United States), 10-14 May 1998; Other Information: PBD: May 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Waste reduction using carbon dioxide: A solvent substitute for precision cleaning applications
Photocatalytic and chemical oxidation of organic compounds in supercritical carbon dioxide. Progress report for FY97