Interaction of a /sup 238/Pu fueled-sphere assembly with a simulated terrestrial environment

Steinkruger, F.J.; Patterson, J. Herbert; Herrera, B.; Nelson, G.B.; Matlack, G.M.; Waterbury, G.R.; Pavone, D.

doi:10.2172/6621017

Cited by 2 publications

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“…This variability may be caused by a number of factors, including changes in the flow rate of the water through the soil, changes in the mechanical properties of the soil (for example, channeling), changes in temperature or relative humidity, and variations in the rate of plutonium input into the soil. In past experiments [1][2][3][4][5] essentially no seasonal dependencies were observed for the release rate of plutonium. That appears to be the case in the present work as well.…”

Section: Soil Percolatesmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to a terrestrial environment. Volume III

Heaton¹,

Patterson²,

Steinkruger³

et al. 1985

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A plutonium oxide source consisting of a single piece of 83% 23 *Pu0 2 and weighing 38 g was exposed for 2.9 yr to a humid, temperate terrestrial environment in an environmental simulation chamber. The soil tray of the chamber was divided into four compartments so that different soil types could be studied under identical conditions. Soils examined in this experiment included loam, silt loam, sand, and humus. Plutonium released into the soils, the soil drainages, and the condensates from the dehumidifier was monitored throughout the experiment. The total plutonium release rate from the Pu0 2 source was approximately ?. ng/m 2 /s. The generation of shortranged airborne plutonium, able to travel from a few centimeters to half a meter, was one of the most significant release pathways. The amount of plutonium released in this way was 10 times that washed directly off the source by rainwater and 20 times that from the fully airborne (longer ranged) release. Of the 200 ug of plutonium deposited in the soils, less than 0.1 u.g was released into the soil percolates. In fact, the soil percolates constituted the least significant release pathway. Within the uncertainties in deriving the plutonium inventories of the soil compartments, we found no discernible differences among the behaviors of the four soil types towards plutonium. There was little or no seasonal effect on the release of plutonium from the soil.

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Section: Soil Percolatesmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…1 with a complete fueled sphere assembly with iridium cladding and graphite impact shell. 2 and with unclad fragments of pressed plutonium oxide (PPO). 34 all in humid terrestrial environments, were reported previously.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to a terrestrial environment. Volume III

Heaton¹,

Patterson²,

Steinkruger³

et al. 1985

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“…Studies of the release of plutonium to several aquatic systems were reported previously. 1 ' 5 Also reported were the results of experiments with iridium-clad fuel, 6 a complete fueled sphere assembly with iridium cladding and graphite impact shell, 7 and unclad fragments of pressed plutonium oxide (PPO), 89 all in humid terrestrial environments. This paper describes an experiment in which bare PPO fragments were exposed to an arid terrestrial climate in a simulated worst-case accident in which the containment failed completely.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to an arid terrestrial environment

Patterson¹,

Herrera²,

Nelson³

et al. 1984

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Two environmental simulation chambers were used to study the behavior of a :3 *PuO ; heal source deposited in an arid, temperate environment. Large fragments from an impact-tested source were deposited in the first chamber, and fines from the source were placed in the second. Plutonium released into Xhe soil, the soil drainages, and the condensates from the dehumidifiers were monitored throughout the experiment. The bulk of the released plutonium, up to 0.04% of the source, was retained in the soil. Of the remainder, larger amounts of plutonium were released to the condensates (to the air) than to the soil percolates. Release rates to the condensates and percolates increased with time for both chambers. Condensate release rates averaged 23 nCi/day for the fines chamber and 90 nCi/day for the chamber with the large fragments. Percolate release rates averaged 224 nCi/rain for the fines chamber and 170 nCi/rain for the other chamber. Spalling of particles from the surface of the plutonium oxide to the air, caused by the action of rain on the hot source fragments, seemed to be a significant release mechanism for the large source fragments but not for the fines. A simulated cleanup operation, involving removal of the source and a small amount of soil, had little effect on the continuing release of plutonium to ihc soil percolates and to the dehumidifter condensates, except that the condensate release rates from the chamber that had contained the large source fragments dropped to a value equal to that of the other chamber. The large source fragments remained virtually unchanged after 8.5 yr of exposure, in contrast to one previous experiment in which fragments of similar size disintegrated into fines.

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Interaction of a /sup 238/Pu fueled-sphere assembly with a simulated terrestrial environment

Cited by 2 publications

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Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to a terrestrial environment. Volume III

Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to a terrestrial environment. Volume III

Long-term exposure of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ to an arid terrestrial environment

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