Open AccessModeling of gaseous {sup 14}CO{sub 2} release from perforations in spent fuel disposal containers
Author(s) -
C. Pescatore,
T.M. Sullivan
Publication year - 1991
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/10132933
Subject(s) - porosity , inert , spent nuclear fuel , argon , waste management , inert gas , gas phase , chemistry , materials science , environmental science , composite material , engineering , organic chemistry
The potential release of gaseous {sup 14}CO{sub 2} from small perforations in spent fuel containers has been evaluated as a function of temperature, hole size, effective porosity of corrosion products within the hole, and time, based on the waste package design parameters and environmental conditions described in the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Report (SCP). The SCP does not specify initial fill gas (argon) pressure and temperature. It is shown that, if significant {sup 14}C oxidation takes place during the initial, inert-gas phase, an incentive exists to initially underpressurize the containers. This will avoid large, spiked releases of gaseous {sup 14}CO{sub 2} and will result in delayed, smaller, and more uniform release rates over time. Therefore larger size perforations could be tolerated while meeting the applicable regulations. 16 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs