ML20151F287
| ML20151F287 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/06/1988 |
| From: | Mcdaniel K NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Siskind B BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY |
| References | |
| CON-FIN-A-3174 NUDOCS 8807270016 | |
| Download: ML20151F287 (3) | |
Text
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EW 7/1 ML 0 6 gggg Dr. Barry Siskind, Group Leader Nuclear Waste and Material Technology Division Department of Nuclear Energy Brookhaven National Laboratory Associated Universities Inc.
Upton, Long Island, New York 11973
Dear Dr. Siskind:
This will confirm the telecon of June 22, 1988 between you, Mel Cowgill, Everett Wick and me regarding Bhl's review of the Topical Report (TR) for the 4
l LN Technology Composite HIC. This work is being performed under Task Order No.
7 under FIN A-3174. We requested that you resolve our comments on BNL's review cnd also review additional comments by NRC based on its own review of the TR.
Both of these items are presented below.
1.
NRC Comments on BNL's Review
- 1.1 Please transmit a aopy of the applicable parts of HW-54341, "Some Aspects of the Cortosion of Buried Stainless Steel Pipe at the Harford Atomic Works," R.F. Plott, 1948. This was referenced in BNL's cornent 10.
1.2 Provide references for a statement in comment 10, which refers to austenitic stainless steels being susceptible to thermal fatigue damage.
1.3 BNL's correents on the polyethylene liner of the HIC refers to "HDPE."
LN's composite HIC, however, has a medium density polyethylene liner.**
BNL should update these comments accordingly.
1.4 Regarding BNL's corment 14 (regarding clarification of the statement that high ganma dose rates cause more damage to polyethylene than low dose rates), did BNL review the five references cited by LN to support its position? Also, BNL should provide a reference (c) to support the sentence, "However, in a given time, it is possible that a high dose rate produces more damage."
(Also please send copies of the applicable pages in these references).
In addition BEL should provide a reference (s) to support the statement, "The presence of antioxidants not withstanding (emphasis added) it is likely that significant mechanical property changes will be observed at high doses, irreapective of dose rate."
BNL should also quantify "high dose rates" and elaborate on "significant property changes."
Telef ax, Mel Cowgill to Everett 'Eck, April 29, 1988, "Draft Initial Comments on Topical Report for the LN Composite High Integrity Container" Section 3.1.2. Internal Lining, pg 3-2, "The Polyethylene used for the lining is Union Carbide's GPEP-803, a linear, medium density polyethylene
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N 8807270016 880706 PDR WMRES EXIBNL
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4 EW 7/1 1.5 BNL comment 15 references WM-3291-6, April 1988.
Please state the applicable page nunbers. Also please send a copy of each of the applicable pages.
If this is not practical becauce of the number of pages, please send a copy of the report.
1.6 Please provide references to support BNL comment 24, i.e, "flotation of lighter density objects has been observed following the disposal of everyday, non-radioactive waste."
2.
Additional Comments by NRC Based on its Review of the TR.
2.1 The TR should address the possibility that the waste will contain one volume percent water. An analysis should be performed (by LN Technology) to estimate whether the water would leave the polyethylene liner (by evaporation) via the passive vent and condense on the inside of the stainless steel shell.
If such a scenario is credible, the potential for crevice corrosion of the Type 316L stainer steel shell from the inside should be assessed.
An analysis should also be performed to assess the effect of the products of radiolytic decomposition of this quantity of water on the HIC. The quantity of gases generated by radiolysis should be calculated and the following should be assessed:
a.
The effect of the oxygen _ and hydrogen on the behavior of the PE liner (both the inside and the outside surf aces) r b.
The effect of the oxygen and hydrogen on the inside surface of the type 316L stainless steel shell and on the performance of the shell, c.
Whether the gases will pressurize the HIC, i.e.,
can the gases be vented as generated?
d.
The effect of harmful contaminants (principally chlorides).
2.2 Table 4.5 of the TR includes various chemicals which could be present as a result of degradation of resin functional groups. "None of the chemicals in the table has a significant effect on polyethylene.
Furthermore, the liquid removed during dewatering is likely to be relatively pure water with actual concentrations many orders of magnitude lower than those in Table 4.5."
We note that table 4.5 includes the following chloride sources:
10%
and 25% hydrochloric acid, 10% and 25% sodium chloride and 5% sodium hyperchlorite. The presence of chloride ion in parts per million quantities can be a significant factor in corrosion of austenitic stainless steels. Therefore, although the actual concentrations are likely to be much lower in any contained aqueous solutions than those listed in Tabic 4.5, the potential effects of chlorides on the stainless steel shell should be addressed. The report should present an analysis in which the following factors are taken into consideration:
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EW 7/1 a.
Contained liquids should be assumed to be one volume percent of the capacity of the container.
b.
The concentrations of the chemicals in the contained liquid should be assumed to be as high as is likely to be found based on experience.
c.
The transfer of contained liquids from the polyethylene liner to the annular gap between the liner and the stainless steel shell.
The mechanism of transfer would be evaporation of liquids and escape thru the passive vent.
d.
The transfer of contained liquids to the outside of the HIC, to the surrounding soil and to adjacent HICs. The nechanism of transfer would be as in c above and then evaporation and escape through the second passive vent You are requested to complete the work described above by July 11, 1988.
Actions resulting from this letter are considered to be within the scope of FIN A-3174.
No changes to costs or sche.duled delivery of contracted products are authorized. Please notify me immediately if you feel this letter vill result in additional costs or delay in delivery of contracted products.
Sincerely, (Original Signed by
-)
Keith McDaniel, Project Officer Engineering Section Technical Branch Division of Low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning DISTRIBUTION:
Central File NMSS r/f LLTB r/f EWick, LLTB KMcDaniel, LLTB MTokar, LLTB PLohaus, LLOB JSurmeier, LLTB FBell, LLRB JGreeves, LLkK MKnapp, LLkH LLTB Q/f/I OFC: LLTB g p y
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NAME:EWick/dfw
- KMcDaniel :MTokar, :
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DATE: 7/J~/88
- P /s /88 t'7/f7/88 :
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