Treatment Method for Fermi Barrel Sodium Metal Residues Page: 19 of 40
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left to react, and treatment with humidified
carbon dioxide was terminated.
After completing the treatment step, the
barrel bungs were removed and photos were
taken of the barrel interior. Figure 8 shows one
photo taken just after the treatment step. The
bottom of the barrel is clearly visible with no
apparent ring of sodium around the barrel seams.
The white carbonate material was loose and
powdery, and had a flaky consistency.
Figure 8. ANL#630 after treatment with
humidified CO2
The barrel was moved to SCMS where
the top of the barrel was removed so that the
white material could be removed. No sodium
metal was seen during the inspection.
The barrel was washed in the Water Wash
Vessel, and no hydrogen was detected during the
washing.
3.4 Barrel ANL#1128
No hydrogen was found in Barrel
ANL#1128 with the portable hydrogen monitor
when the barrel bungs were first opened.
Before the initial carbon dioxide purge,
the hydrogen and oxygen monitors on the vent
line were verified to be in working order, and
additional temperature probes were installed on
the outer surface of the barrel.At 11/11/2004 9:46, the barrel was first
flushed with dry carbon dioxide at 5 scfm and
ambient temperature. When the carbon dioxide
flush began, the temperature of the barrel bottom
rose immediately to 110 C. It remained at the
maximum temperature for approximately 5
minutes, and then cooled down. Figure 9 shows
the measured hydrogen and oxygen
concentrations during the initial purge.
Oxygen - - Hydrogen
6
5
03
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (minutes)
Figure 9. #ANL1128 H2 and 02 concentrations
during initial dry CO2 purge
As was seen with Barrel #630, the hydrogen rose
quickly to above 5 vol%, and then began falling
within 10 minutes. The oxygen concentration
also increased during this time period to above 1
vol%, which was the maximum limit of the
oxygen sensor. The increase in oxygen readings
is consistent with the observed increase in
oxygen concentration during the initial purge of
Barrel #ANL630. The reaction of sodium
peroxide with water may indeed be the cause for
the increased oxygen.
Though the recorded oxygen level is
limited to a maximum of 1 vol%, observations
made at the time of the actual instrument read-
out showed that the oxygen level reached a peak
concentration of about 1.6 vol%. This is above
the action level of 1 vol%, but the action was to
purge with dry carbon dioxide, and so the purge
was continued. This increase in oxygen is a
concern when hydrogen and heat are also being
generated.12
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Sherman, Steven R. & Knight, Collin J. Treatment Method for Fermi Barrel Sodium Metal Residues, report, June 1, 2005; [Idaho Falls, Idaho]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc884276/m1/19/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.