Thermal Profile within a 3013 Storage Container Filled with Fine Plutonium Dioxide Powder

摘要

The thermal properties of DOE's 3013 storage container plus plutonium bearing materials are fundamental to understanding behavior during storage and transportation. For instance, as the temperature increases (1) outgassing in the container increases, (2) fill-gas pressure increases, (3) water vapor pressure increases, (4) the distribution of water between solid phases such as salt, oxide, and container walls changes, and (5) the kinetics of reactions affecting hydrogen gas generation and corrosion change. Because of the direct effect that temperature has on pressure and corrosion in this sealed material-storage system, the thermal profile within a 3013 container filled with fine plutonium dioxide powder has been calculated using a recent model developed from experimental data for fine plutonium oxide powders. The temperature profile is compared to predictions of earlier models.