Open AccessCriticality parameters for tank waste evaluation
Author(s) -
Christine A. Rogers,
H. E. Harris
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/657486
Subject(s) - criticality , plutonium , critical mass (sociodynamics) , environmental science , nuclear engineering , slab , radioactive waste , waste management , margin (machine learning) , engineering , nuclear physics , physics , computer science , structural engineering , social science , machine learning , sociology
A summary is provided of basic parameters used to evaluate criticality safety of high-level tank waste at the Hanford Site.Critical sizes and plutonium concentrations are based on a conservative waste model with reduced neutron absorption and optimized water. Figures were provided of sphere and slab minimum critical dimensions and plutonium critical masses.Minimum subcritical limit absorber/plutonium mass ratios are provided for selected waste components. Component contributions to subcriticality can be combined by adding the individual actual-to-minimum subcritical mass fractions. A discussion is provided of the margin of safety inherent in tank waste