Open AccessDEMONSTRATION DISPOSAL OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE SOLIDS IN LYONS, KANSAS, SALT MINE: BACKGROUND AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTAL ASPECTS
Author(s) -
R.L. Bradshaw,
J.J. Perona,
J.O. Blomeke
Publication year - 1964
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4114311
Subject(s) - radioactive waste , salt (chemistry) , waste management , environmental science , decay heat , radioactive source , nuclear engineering , materials science , engineering , chemistry , electrical engineering , detector
A demonstration of the disposal of high-level radioactive waste solids to be carried out in a salt mine at Lyons, Kansas, will have as its objectives: (1) the demonstration of required waste-handling equipment and techniques, (2) the determination of the stability of salt under the influence of heat and radiation, and (3) the collection of information on creep and plastic flow of salt which is needed for the design of an actual disposal facility. As presently conceived, 14 irradiated fuel assemblies from the Engineering Test Reactor will serve as a source of radiation in lieu of actual solidified wastes. The assemblies will be placed in a circular array of holes in the floor with one can in the center and other six cans located peripherally, spaced 5 ft on centers. During the course of the 2-year test, four sets of assemblies will be used to achieve a peak dose to the salt of about 8 x 10/sup 8/ rad and the temperature of the adjacent salt will be maintained at 200 deg C with electrical heaters. A second array, consisting only of heaters, will be operated as a control to determine those effects due solely to heat. In addition to the radioactive and control arrays, a ribpillar located between the two arrays will be heated electrically around its base to produce significant information on salt flow characteristics at elevated temperatures. (auth