Drying damaged K West fuel elements (Summary of whole element furnace runs 1211 through 8)

摘要

N Reactor fuel elements stored in the Hanford K Basins were subjected to high211u001etemperatures and vacuum conditions to remove water. Results of the first series 211u001eof whole element furnace tests i.e., Runs 1 through 8 were collected in this 211u001esummary report. The report focuses on the six tests with breached fuel from the K 211u001eWest Basin which ranged from a simple fracture at the approximate mid-point to 211u001esevere damage with cladding breaches at the top and bottom ends with axial 211u001ebreaches and fuel loss. Results of the tests are summarized and compared for 211u001emoisture released during cold vacuum drying, moisture remaining after drying, 211u001eeffects of drying on the fuel element condition, and hydrogen and fission product 211u001erelease.