scholarly journals 14C release from irradiated stainless steel

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1671-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva de Visser-Týnová ◽  
Stephen W Swanton ◽  
Stephen J Williams ◽  
Marcel P Stijkel ◽  
Alison J Walker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C or carbon-14, half-life 5730 yr) is a key radionuclide in the assessment of the safety of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste. In particular, the radiological impact of gaseous carbon-14 bearing species has been recognized as a potential issue. Irradiated steels are one of the main sources of carbon-14 in the United Kingdom’s radioactive waste inventory. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the chemical form(s) in which the carbon-14 will be released. The objective of the work was to measure the rate and speciation of carbon-14 release from irradiated 316L(N) stainless steel on leaching under high-pH anoxic conditions, representative of a cement-based near field for low-heat generating wastes. Periodic measurements of carbon-14 releases to both the gas phase and to solution were made in duplicate experiments over a period of up to 417 days. An initial fast release of carbon-14 from the surface of the steel is observed during the first week of leaching, followed by a drop in the rate of release at longer times. Carbon-14 is released primarily to the solution phase with differing fractions released to the gas phase in the two experiments: about 1% of the total release in one and 6% in the other. The predominant dissolved carbon-14 releases are in inorganic form (as 14C-carbonate) but also include organic species. The predominant gas-phase species are hydrocarbons with a smaller fraction of 14CO (which may include some volatile oxygen-containing carbon-species). The experiments are continuing, with final sampling and termination planned after leaching for a total of two years.

Author(s):  
Sarah Vines ◽  
David Lever

Carbon-14 is a key radionuclide in the assessment of the safety of a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste because of the calculated assessment of the radiological consequences of gaseous carbon-14 bearing species [i]. It may be that such calculations are based on overly conservative assumptions and that better understanding could lead to considerably reduced assessment of the radiological consequences from these wastes. Alternatively, it may be possible to mitigate the impact of these wastes through alternative treatment, packaging or design options. The Radioactive Waste Management Directorate of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA RWMD) has established an integrated project team in which the partners are working together to develop a holistic approach to carbon-14 management in the disposal system [ii]. For a waste stream containing carbon-14 to be an issue: • There must be a significant inventory of carbon-14 in the waste stream; AND • That waste stream has to generate carbon-14 bearing gas; AND • A bulk gas phase has to entrain the carbon-14 bearing gas: AND • These gases must migrate through the engineered barriers in significant quantities; AND • These gases must migrate through the overlying geological environment (either as a distinct gas phase or as dissolved gas); AND • These gases must interact with materials in the biosphere (i.e. plants) in a manner that leads to significant doses and risks to exposed groups or potentially exposed groups. The project team has developed and used this “AND” approach to structure and prioritise the technical work and break the problem down in a manageable way. We have also used it to develop our approach to considering alternative treatment, packaging and design options. For example, it may be possible to pre-treat some wastes to remove some of the inventory or to segregate other wastes so that they are removed from any bulk gas phase which might facilitate migration through the geosphere. Initially, the project team has undertaken a six month programme of work to examine the current understanding of these aspects and has captured this in the Phase 1 report [ii], in a modelling basis spreadsheet and in scoping assessments, which help us better understand the potential significance of carbon-14. Using the current modelling basis, but ignoring any potential benefits from the geosphere in retarding or preventing gas from reaching the surface, the calculated release of carbon-14 is dominated by: corrosion of irradiated reactive metals (in the operational and early post-closure time frame); corrosion of irradiated stainless steel and leaching of irradiated graphite (in the longer term). The Phase 1 work has shown that there is considerable scope for reducing the calculated radiological consequence for these wastes and a roadmap has been developed for a second Phase of work.


2015 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1275-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Wieland ◽  
W. Hummel

AbstractCarbon-14 is an important radionuclide in the inventory of radioactive waste and is considered to be a key radionuclide in performance assessment. In Switzerland, the 14C inventory in a cement-based repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste is mainly associated with activated steel (∼85%). Anaerobic corrosion of the activated steel will determine the time-dependent release of 14C-bearing compounds from the cementitious near field into the host rock. The present study was carried out to provide an overview on the current state of the art knowledge regarding the carbon speciation during the anaerobic corrosion of activated and non-activated iron/steel and to critically assess the capability of thermodynamic modelling to predict 14C speciation in anoxic alkaline conditions. Previous experimental work showed the presence of oxidized and reduced hydrocarbons during corrosion in iron-water systems in anoxic (near neutral to alkaline) conditions which appears to be inconsistent with the negative redox potential of the system. The capability of thermodynamic modelling to predict the carbon speciation in these conditions was found to be limited due to uncertainties associated with the concept of metastability in the C–H–O system.


The sun oriented power (SP) is a one of a kind renewable vitality innovation. SP frameworks can give control, water warming and water decontamination in one unit. This innovation will be to a great degree accommodating in enhancing the personal satisfaction for some individuals around the globe who do not have the vitality expected to carry on with a sound life. A financial allegorical dish sort Cassegrain concentrating framework was created at the foundation of Energy Studies, Anna University Chennai. An old microwave media transmission reception apparatus having a paraboloidal shape made in aluminum frames an essential reflector which guarantees effortlessness of generation and operation. The essential concentrator was settled with mirror cleaned stainless steel with reasonable cement .The optional concentrator is inward mirror .Suitable supporting structure was developed for supporting the cassegrain concentrator. Double hub following framework is mounted for adjusting the concentrator to azimuth and apex point by utilizing DC engine and direct actuator individually. Water goes about as working liquid to expel warm from .The tank is protected with thermocol material upheld with wooden structure on all sides to maintain a strategic distance from convection misfortunes. The material Cost for the framework was Rs 15000


1974 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 722-728
Author(s):  
Rudolph E. Croteau ◽  
Herman E. Sheets

Underwater plate vibration and its associated noise are of interest for the analysis of ship structures, propeller blades, and other areas of underwater acoustics. In order to analyze the relationship between a plate vibrating underwater and the acoustic pressure in the near-field, optical interferometric holography, using a blue-green laser beam, was used to determine surface displacement for the vibrating plate, which was excited through a fluid-coupled system. Acoustic measurements of the same source were made in a water tower concurrently with the holography and later at a precision acoustic testing facility. This method permits prediction of underwater plate modal frequencies and shapes with high accuracy.


1987 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Tsukamoto ◽  
Inga-Kari Björner ◽  
Hilbert Christensen ◽  
Hans-Peter Hermansson ◽  
Lars Werme

AbstractThe release of Am-241 during corrosion of the radioactive waste glass, JSS-A, has been studied in the presence of corrosion products and/or uncom-pacted bentonite. The corrosion behaviour of Am-241 has been analyzed using gamma spectrometry. Adsorption of Am-241 on bentonite is observed in all cases. The contents of Am-241 in centrifuged leachates are in most cases less than 1/100 of total values. The normalized elemental mass loss of Am increases initially with corrosion time, and the values in the presence of bentonite and corrosion products are larger than those in the presence of bentonite alone. This tendency is in agreement with results previously found for other elements. The release of Am is low, only about 10–20 % of the corresponding total mass loss.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1164 ◽  
pp. 67-75
Author(s):  
Iuliana Duma ◽  
Alin Constantin Murariu ◽  
Aurel Valentin Bîrdeanu ◽  
Radu Nicolae Popescu

The paper presents and compares the results on the reliability and remaining life assessment of a reactor (coxing box) from a petrochemical plant. The reactor shell is made of 16Mo5 (W1.5423) steel, with a thickness of 25 mm, plated with 3 mm thick X6CrAl13 (W1.4002) stainless steel. The assessment was made in two steps. For preliminary remnant life assessment, specifications of section VII of the ASME code was used followed by iRiS‑Thermo expert system. Further, experimental creep and metallographic replica analysis were performed. Results comparison of the two methods applied revealed a reduction of the preliminary estimated remaining live obtained using metallographic replica analysis. Based on the results obtained, the possibility to extend the service duration of the coxing box in the safety condition, using current process parameters, with of 20.000 hours was highlighted.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1649-1656
Author(s):  
Simon Norris ◽  
Manuel Capouet

ABSTRACTThe European Commission CAST project (CArbon-14 Source Term) aimed to develop understanding of the potential release mechanisms of carbon-14 (radiocarbon, 14C) from radioactive waste materials under conditions relevant to waste packaging and disposal to underground geological disposal facilities. The project focused on the release of carbon-14 as dissolved and gaseous species from irradiated metals (steels, Zircaloys), from spent ion-exchange materials and from irradiated graphites. This paper provides an overview of the CAST project and its output. It also acts as an introduction and scene-setter to the other papers in this special edition of Radiocarbon.


2012 ◽  
Vol 538-541 ◽  
pp. 1088-1091
Author(s):  
Mei Yuan Ke

Warm compacting behavior and sintering performance of 316L stainless steel powders were studied. Results showed that green density and strength of samples made in warm compaction were much higher than that in cold compaction. Under pressure of 700MPa, green density and strength in warm compaction were 7.01 g•cm-3and 30.7MPa, which were higher than cold compaction by 0.19 g•cm-3and 10.7MPa. When sintered in hydrogen-nitrogen atmosphere for 60 minutes, sintered density, tensile strength and elongation all increased with the rise of sintering temperature. At 1300°C, Sintered density, tensile strength and elongation were 7.42 g•cm-3, 545MPa, 28.0%, respectively.


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