Optimization of Gas Generation Testing of Contact handled Transuranic Solidified Organic Waste

摘要

The Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste Authorized Methods for Payload Control (CHTRAMPAC) requires that drums containing Waste Type IV (solidified organic waste) must be evaluated by gas generation testing (GGT) because a G-value, a measure of gas generation potential, has not been determined for Waste Type IV. Preliminary gas generation testing of Waste Type IV drums at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) resulted in a subset of drums exceeding one or both rate limits. This is not an unreasonable phenomenon, given the quantity of source material for hydrogen gas and potentially high concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drums containing this waste type. Typically, waste drums in which the flammable gas and total gas generation rates from GGT exceed allowable limits cannot be shipped until these rates are reduced to an allowable level through treatment or repackaging. However, since the gas generation rates are not measured directly, but calculated using test data measurements, there is the possibility that the calculated rates are inaccurate or overly conservative as a result of gas sampling methodology or inaccuracies in equations and assumptions used to estimate total gas release or hydrogen gas generation rates in the GGT system. In an effort to increase the number of drums that comply with the gas generation rate limits, the Gas Generation Test Program (GGTP) was reviewed at the AMWTP. The objective of the effort was to identify overly conservative aspects of the GGTP and reduce the level of conservatism by using more realistic parameters and assumptions. In addition, the impact of transportation initiatives in the CH-TRAMPAC, Revision 2 on the number of drums that must undergo GGT and shippability is examined. Based on the presented case study, an optimal payload assembly is recommended for the total gas generation rate and flammable gas generation for Waste Type IV drums.