Radiation effects in solidified high-level waste. Part I. Stored energy

Roberts, F.P.; Jenks, G.H.; Bopp, C.D.

doi:10.2172/4058327

Cited by 20 publications

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“…Only the beta-gamma radiations emitted by the fission products, and the alpha particles and associated recoil atoms produced by residual actinides contribute significant effects [42,43].…”

Section: Projected Radiation Exposures and Temperaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Significance of Radiation Effects in Solid Radioactive Waste

Permar

McDonell

Effects of Radiation on Materials

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Proposed NRC criteria for disposal of high-level nuclear waste require development of waste packages to contain radionuclides for at least 1000 years, and design of repositories to prevent radionuclide release at an annual rate greater than 1 part in 100 000 of the total activity. The high-level wastes that are now temporarily stored as aqueous salts, sludges, and calcines must be converted to high-integrity solid forms that resist deterioration from radiation and other effects of long-term storage. Spent fuel may be encapsulated for similar long-term storage. Candidate waste forms beside the spent fuel elements themselves, include borosilicate and related glasses, mineral-like crystalline ceramics, concrete formulations, and metal-matrix glass or ceramic composites. These waste forms will sustain damage produced by beta-gamma radiation up to 1012 rads, by alpha radiation up to Iol9 particles/g, by internal helium generation greater than about 0.1 atom percent, and by the atom transmutations accompanying radioactive decay. Current data indicate that under these conditions the glass forms suffer only minor volume changes, stored energy deposition, and leachability effects. The crystalline ceramics appear susceptible to the potentially more severe alterations accompanying metamictization and natural analogs of candidate materials are being examined to establish their suitability as waste forms. Helium concentrations in the waste forms are generally below thresholds for severe dama~e in either glass or crystalline ceramics at low temperatures, but microstructural effects are not well characterized. Transmutation effects remain to be established. • SIGNIFICANCE OF RADIATION EFFECTS IN SOLID RADIOACTIVE WASTE

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“…Only the beta-gamma radiations emitted by the fission products, and the alpha particles and associated recoil atoms produced by residual actinides contribute significant effects [42,43].…”

Section: Projected Radiation Exposures and Temperaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The stored energies of commercial waste glasses are generally less than 50 cal/g for e~posures up to 1019 G/g [10,43].…”

Section: Stored Energy Buildupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significance of Radiation Effects in Solid Radioactive Waste

Permar

McDonell

Effects of Radiation on Materials

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“…The latent energy is released as heat when the temperature of the glass is raised sufficiently. The maximum stored energies in waste glasses are from 30 to 50 cal/g; thus, under adiabatic conditions, the maximum additional temperature rise that could occur due to an unlikely rapid release of the stored energy is only 150 to 300°C (Weber et al 1979;Roberts, Jenks, and Bopp 1976). Other aspects of radiation damage to glass have been studied and have been found to oe insignificant within the MRS time frame (Gray, Wald, and Turcotte 1981;Turcotte et al 1981).…”

Section: Storage Conditions For Hlw In Mrsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of degradation concerns for spent fuel, high-level wastes, and transuranic wastes in monitored retrievalbe storage

Guenther¹,

Gilbert²,

Slate³

et al. 1984

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe authors would like to thank the r•lonitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) Program office at Pacific i>Jorthwest Laboratory (PNL) for reviewing this report and providing program support. The following PNL personnel are also acknowledged: G. M. Holter, J. F. Fletcher, R. A. Libby, and G. E. Russcher, for fuel inventory data; s. K. Edler, for editorial assistance; and N. J. Wildung for computer graphics.i i i ABSTRACT A study was performed by Pacific Northwest Laboratory to assess potential degradation mechanisms for spent fuel (SF), high-level wastes (HLW), and transuranic wastes (TRUW) under dry storage conditions in a monitored retrievable storage (MRS) facility. It was concluded that there are no significant degradation mechanisms that could prevent the design, construction, and safe operation of MRS facilities. Long-term mechanisms that could affect the ability to maintain or readily retrieve SF, HLW, and TRUW were identified. v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It has been concluded that there are no significant degradation mechanisms that could prevent the design, construction, and safe operation of monitored retrievable storage (MRS) facilities. However, there are some long-term degradation mechanisms that could affect the ability to maintain or readily retrieve spent fuel (SF), high-level wastes (HLW), and transuranic wastes (TRUW) several decades after emplacement. Although catastrophic failures are not anticipated, long-term degradation mechanisms have been identified that could, under certain conditions, cause failure of the SF cladding and/or failure of TRUW storage containers.Stress rupture limits for Zircaloy-clad SF in MRS range from 300 to 440°C, based on limited data. Additional tests on irradiated Zircaloy (3-to 5-year duration) are needed to narrow this uncertainty. Cladding defect sizes could increase in air as a result of fuel density decreases due to oxidation. Oxidation tests (3-to 5-year duration) on SF are also needed to verify oxidation rates in air and to determine temperatures below which monitoring of an inert cover gas would not be required.Few, if any, changes in the physical state of HLW glass or canisters or their performance would occur under projected MRS conditions. The major uncertainty for HLW is in the heat transfer through cracked glass and glass aevitrification above 500°C.

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“…This is also true for crystalline ceramics and supercalcine waste forms doped with curium. (Kelley 1975;Mendel et ale 1976;Mendel et ale 1977;Bibler and Kelley 1978;Ross et ale 1978;Ross and Mendel 1979;Rusin, Gray, and Wald 1979;Weber et ale 1979) • microstructural changes loss of crystal structure (Weber et ale 1979;Rusin, Gray, and Wald 1979) -cracking (Scheffler and Riege 1977;Bibler and Kelley 1978;Weber et al 1979) -bubble formation (Bibler 1978;Hall 1976) • stored-energy buildup (Roberts, Jenks, and Bopp 1976;Scheffler, Riege, and Hild 1976;SCheffler and Riege 1977;Mendel et ale 1977;Ross et ale 1978;Ross and Mendel 1979;Weber et ale 1979) • leachability (Mendel et ale 1976;Hall et ale 1976;Mendel et ale 1977;Scheffler and Riege 1977;Bibler and Kelley 1978;Weber et ale 1979) • radiolytic gas formation (Turcotte 1976;Hall et ale 1976;Bibler and Kelley 1978) (Mendel et al 1977;Scheffler and Riege 1977;Weber et al 1979).…”

Section: Effects Of Alpha Decaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Materials characterization center workshop on the irradiation effects in nuclear waste forms

Roberts¹,

Turcotte²,

Weber³

1981

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Th is report was prepar ed as an acco unt of w ork sp o nsorea by th e Uni ted Sta tes Government. Neither the U nited States nor the Department of Ener gy , nor an y of the i r employees, nor any of th eir contractor s, ,u oro ntr ad or s, or t heir emp loy ees , ma kes any warran ty , express o r impl ied , or assu m es an y leg al li abi lity or r espo n si b ility for t he accuracy, com ple tenes> or usefuln ess of an y information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not in fr in ge p rivate ly owned rights. The views. opinions and c:onciu.ions con tJ in ed in th is report are those of the con tractor and de r. o t necessar ily repr ese nt th o se o f the Un it ed Stat es Go vernment or the U nited Sta tes Depart ment of Ener gy.

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Radiation effects in solidified high-level waste. Part I. Stored energy

Cited by 20 publications

References 0 publications

Significance of Radiation Effects in Solid Radioactive Waste

Significance of Radiation Effects in Solid Radioactive Waste

Assessment of degradation concerns for spent fuel, high-level wastes, and transuranic wastes in monitored retrievalbe storage

Materials characterization center workshop on the irradiation effects in nuclear waste forms

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