Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-wp2c8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-23T07:16:25.788Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Constraints by Experimental Data for Modeling of Radionuclide Release from Spent Fuel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Bernd Grambow
Affiliation:
Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin, FRG
L.O. Werme
Affiliation:
SKB, Stockholm, Sweden
R.S. Forsyth
Affiliation:
Studsvik, Nyköping, Sweden
J. Bruno
Affiliation:
Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Get access

Abstract

Comparison of spent fuel corrosion data from nuclear waste management projects in Canada, Sweden and the USA strongly suggests that the release of 90Sr to the leachant can be used as a measure of the degradation (oxidation/dissolution) of the fuel matrix. A surprisingly quantitative similarity in the 90 Sr release data for fuel of various types (BWR, PWR, Candu), linear power ratings and burnups leached under oxic conditions was observed in the comparison. After 1000 days of leachant contact, static or sequential, the fractional release rates for 90Sr (and for cesium nuclides) were of the order of 10−7/d.

The rate of spent fuel degradation (alteration) under oxic conditions can be considered to be controlled either by the growth rates of secondary alteration products, by oxygen diffusion through a product layer, by the rate of formation of radiolytic oxidants or by solubility-controlled dissolution of the matrix. These processes are discussed. Methods for determining upper limits for long-term 90Sr release, and hence fuel degradation, have been derived from the experimental data and consideration of radiolytic oxidant production.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Garisto, N.C., Vance, E.R., Stroes-Gascoyne, S. and Johnson, L.H., “Instant Release Fractions for the Assessment of Used Nuclear Fuel Disposal” AECL-9892, Atomic Energy of Canada (1989)Google Scholar
[2] Kleykamp, H., J. Nucl. Mater., 131 (1985) p. 221 Google Scholar
[3] Werme, L.O. and Forsyth, R.S., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 112, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1988) pp. 443452 Google Scholar
[4] Forsyth, R.S., Werme, L.O. and Bruno, J., J. Nucl. Mater. 138 (1986) pp. 115 Google Scholar
[5] Stroes-Gascoyne, S., Johnson, L.H., Beeley, P.A., and Sellinger, D.M., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 50, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1985) pp. 317326 Google Scholar
[6] Jeffery, B.M., J. Nucl. Mater. 22 (1967) pp. 3340 Google Scholar
[7] Kleykamp, H., Paschoal, J.O., Pejsa, R., and ThUmmler, F., J. Nucl. Mater. 130 (1985) pp 426433 Google Scholar
[8] Thomas, L., pers. communication (1989)Google Scholar
[9] Forsyth, R.S., Svanberg, K. and Werme, L., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 26, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1984) pp. 179190 Google Scholar
[10] Johnson, L., Burns, K.I., Joling, H. and Moore, C.J., “The Dissolution of Irradiated U02 fuel unde Hydrothermal Oxidizing Conditions”, TR-128, Atomic Energy of Canada (1981)Google Scholar
[11] Johnson, L.H., Shoesmith, D.W., Lunansky, G.E., Bailey, M.B., and, M.B. Tremaine, P.R., Nucl. Technology 56, (1982) p. 238 Google Scholar
[12] Johnson, L.H., Proceedings of the 19th information meeting of the nuclear fuel waste management program, TR-350, Atomic Energy of Canada (1985) pp. 239248 Google Scholar
[13] Vandergraaf, T.T., “Leaching of Irradiated U02 Fuel”, TR-100, Atomic Energy of Canada (1980)Google Scholar
[14] Studsvik Fuel Laboratory, to be published.Google Scholar
[15] Grambow, B., “Spent fuel: Dissolution and oxidation. An evaluation of literature data”, Technical Report 89-13, SKB, Stockholm, Sweden (1989)Google Scholar
[16] Wilson, C.N., Bruton, C.J., “Studies on Spent Fuel Dissolution Behavior Under Yucca Mountain Repository Conditions”, UCRL-100223, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA. 94559 (1989)Google Scholar
[17] Shoesmith, D.W., Sunder, S., Ikeda, B.M., and King, F., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 127, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1989) pp. 279293 Google Scholar
[18] Wang, R., “Spent Fuel Special Studies Progress Report”, PNL-3566, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA. 99352 (1981)Google Scholar
[19] Bruno, J. and Sandino, A., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 127, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1989) pp. 871878 Google Scholar
[20] Apted, M.J., Liebetrau, A.M. and Engel, D.W., “The Analytical Repository Source-Term (AREST) Model: Analysis of Spent Fuel as a Nuclear Waste Form”, Report PNL-6347, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA (1989).Google Scholar
[21] Ollila, K., “Dissolution Mechanism of U02 at Various Parametric Conditions”, Report YJT-88-04, Technical Research Centre of Finland, Reactor Laboratory (1988)Google Scholar
[22] P.O'Hare, A.G., Lewis, B.M. and Nguyen, S.N., Chem, J.. Thermodynamics, 20, (1988) pp. 12871296 Google Scholar
[23] Bruno, J. and Puigdomenech, I., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 127, (Materials Research Society, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 1989) pp. 887896 Google Scholar
[24] Christensen, H. and Bjergbakke, E., “Radiolysis of groundwater from spent fuel”, SKBF-KBS TR 82-18, SKB, Stockholm, Sweden (1982).Google Scholar