The effect of plutonium dioxide water surface coverage on the generation of hydrogen and oxygen

Veirs, Douglas K.¹  Berg, John M.¹  Crowder, Mark L.² 

[1] Los Alamos National Laboratory;Savannah River National Laboratory

关键词: ADSORPTION;    AIR;    CONTAINERS;    HUMIDITY;    HYDROGEN;    MOISTURE;    OXIDES;    OXYGEN;    PARTIAL PRESSURE;    PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE;    PRODUCTION;    RADIOLYSIS;    SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA;    WATER;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1044129
RP-ID  :  LA-UR-12-22377
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1044129
Others  :  TRN: US201214%%641

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The conditions for the production of oxygen during radiolysis of water adsorbed onto plutonium dioxide powder are discussed. Studies in the literature investigating the radiolysis of water show that both oxygen and hydrogen can be generated from water adsorbed on high-purity plutonium dioxide powder. These studies indicate that there is a threshold in the amount of water below which oxygen is not generated. The threshold is associated with the number of monolayers of adsorbed water and is shown to occur at approximately two monolayers of molecularly adsorbed water. Material in equilibrium with 50% relative humidity (RH) will be at the threshold for oxygen generation. Using two monolayers of molecularly adsorbed water as the threshold for oxygen production, the total pressure under various conditions is calculated assuming stoichiometric production of hydrogen and oxygen. The specific surface area of the oxide has a strong effect on the final partial pressure. The specific surface areas resulting in the highest pressures within a 3013 container are evaluated. The potential for oxygen generation is mitigated by reduced relative humidity, and hence moisture adsorption, at the oxide surface which occurs if the oxide is warmer than the ambient air. The potential for oxygen generation approaches zero as the temperature difference between the ambient air and the material approaches 6 C.