MATTER - Srnl.doe.gov
MATTERMaterials ScienceA publication of theSavannah RiverNational LaboratoryVolume 2, Issue 1
Fuel Receipt L BasinMATTERVolume 2, Issue 1CONTENTSMaterials Science4 Materials Science Contributionsto the Savannah River Site and Beyond6 Out of the Ordinary Energy Technology8 Design Measurement9 Safe Storage through Materials Science,Engineering and Surveillance10 Combating Corrosion12 Leader in Cementitious Materials13 Materials Characterization14 Energy Storage through Materials Science16 Glass Science for Waste ImmobilizationDr. Vahid MajidiExecutive Vice Presidentand Director, SRNL18 The People of SRNLChristian HarrisSRNL Communications Directorchristian.harris@srnl.doe.govPage 2 Matter Volume 2, Issue 1www.srnl.doe.gov
IntroductionMaterials science is a broad,cross-cutting scientificfield, encompassing manydisciplines, with chemistryat the heart of it. The central theorybehind materials science is looking atthe microstructure of a material andhow it ties to the larger, molecular,physical and chemical aspects of it.At SRNL, our materials scientists work to understand and alter the microstructure ofmaterials, customizing or even creating new materials with tailored properties for specificuses. Through the application of science, these new materials have broad applicationsacross the Department of Energy (DOE).Touching all aspects of SRNL’s DOE mission areas, Materials Science and Technology atSRNL is the driving engine for innovation, providing materials technology and systemssolutions to support national security, clean energy development, and further protect theenvironment. Key SRNL Materials Science and Technology capabilities include: Advanced materials synthesis, development, testing and qualification Environmental effects on materials Corrosion science and technology Materials reliability Nuclear materials storage, surveillance and processing Wasteform formulation for sequestering hazardous constituentsThis issue of Matter explores just a few of the materials science efforts underway at SRNLas we put science to work in advancing national security, environmental stewardship andenergy manufacturing. This edition includes articles about teaming with Clemson Universityto advance energy storage; materials and structural monitoring of gas transfer systems andreservoirs; examination of innovative, new materials in our nuclear stockpile; collaboratingwith other national laboratories to advance the use of cementitious materials, and otherinnovative and collaborative materials science work at SRNL.I invite you to peruse this issue of Matter as we significantly play an innovative role inadvancing DOE’s mission by providing materials technology and systems solutions. pDr. Vahid MajidiDirector, SRNLwww.srnl.doe.govVolume 2, Issue 1 Matter Page 3
MATERIALS SCIENCECONTRIBUTIONSto theSavannahRiver Siteand beyond12Reactor ClosureDefense WasteProcessingThe Savannah RiverSite (SRS) is a sprawling198,000-acre facilitylocated on the edge ofthe Savannah River inSouth Carolina.Having a deep-rooted history inscientific discovery, SRNL hasplayed a critical role in many of theinnovative approaches used todayfor operations at SRS. While thispublication primarily focuses oncurrent programming within the fieldof materials science, it is importantto understand past contributions ofSRNL scientists and engineers atSRS. Highlighted are only five of themany contributions SRNL scientistshave made in the field of materialsscience at SRS.Page 4 Matter Volume 2, Issue 1When the Cold War ended in 1991, theSRS reactors were shut down. In 2009,SRS permanently decommissioned tworeactor facilities plus a test reactorusing American Resource Recovery Actfunds. The SRS reactor closures hadto meet technical, economic, social,and environmental challenges for theresidual radioactive material to safelyremain at SRS.SRNL materials scientists and engineersdesigned four flowable Portland cementgrouts for the reactor buildings and twoflowable low-pH grouts for filling thereactor vessels. Each grout formulationhad to account for flowability, long-termstability, set time, heat generation andinteractions with materials within thestructure. SRNL worked closely withSavannah River Nuclear Solutions(SRNS) to successfully implementthese new technologies on a massivescale (over 150,000 cubic meters offlowable grout).The Defense Waste Processing Facility(DWPF) at SRS is the only operatingradioactive waste vitrification plant in thenation. This facility converts radioactiveliquid waste currently stored at SRS intoa solid glass form suitable for long-termstorage and disposal. The processing ofthis waste required extensive materialscompatibility testing coupled withinnovative equipment design by SRNLmaterials scientists and engineers.SRNL used materials science expertiseto understand and predict the behaviorof radionuclides in the glass wasteform used at DWPF: borosilicateglass. Borosilicate glass incorporatesa wide range of elements and hasbeen demonstrated to have long-termstability. SRNL scientists also developedthe product control strategies andtesting protocols to ensure the glasswaste form could be safely stored forthousands of years.www.srnl.doe.gov
345SaltstoneTritium EnterpriseDisposition of over 100,000 milliongallons of salt waste generated fromdissolving reactor fuel at SRS isessential to the DOE closure mission.To date, over 17 million gallonshave been stabilized and solidified inSaltstone and disposed of at SRS.The SRS Tritium Facilities, part of theNational Nuclear Security Administration’s(NNSA) operations, are designed andoperated to supply and process tritium,an isotope of hydrogen gas and acrucial component in developing nuclearweapons. SRNL is the only technologyprovider for the SRS tritium processingand gas transfer system loading andtesting; SRNL’s competency is of criticalimportance to the effectiveness of theU.S. nuclear stockpile.Cassini and OtherDeep Space MissionsSRNL materials scientists andengineers developed this robust,ambient temperature cement wasteform and high-volume productionprocess (130 gpm and pumpableup to 500 m) in the 1980s. Theprimary cementitious reagent inSaltstone is quenched slag, a glassyby-product from iron ore refining.Saltstone was the first radioactivewaste form based on ground slag.Recently, employing SRNL technicalguidance, the Saltstone formulationwas adjusted to support highervolume Saltstone processing therebyenabling acceleration of the SRS tankclosure mission.www.srnl.doe.govFrom its inception, SRNL materialsscientists and engineers have supportedthe facility and continue to do so bydeveloping specialized closure weldsused for reservoirs; supporting theinterrogation of materials that mayfail in service and developing new andimproved processes; determining theefforts of hydrogen isotopes on stainlesssteels and polymers, and; assisting withtroubleshooting and process developmentfor new materials and concepts.SRS produced Pu-238 for the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) to power deep spacemissions. In 1995, SRS completedthe campaign to supply Pu-238 pelletsto fuel NASA’s Cassini Mission. Theunmanned expedition to the planetSaturn was launched in 1997 andarrived at the ringed planet in 2004after a flawless flight.SRNL materials scientists developedthe specifications and processesfor preparing the Pu-238 oxidepowder into heat sources usedas radioisotopic thermoelectricgenerators to supply electricalpower for the deep space missions.They also developed compatiblesealing materials and the weldingprocess for the transportationcontainers allowing radioactive decayto occur while mitigating the potentialfor contamination. pVolume 2, Issue 1 Matter Page 5
Patrick Ward, principal investigator and primary concept inventor, is exploring the use of photoelectrodes for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB).Page 6 Matter Volume 2, Issue 1www.srnl.doe.gov
Out of the OrdinaryENERGYTECHNOLOGYSRNL’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development(LDRD) is focused on advancing the technicalcapabilities needed for the future success of DOE.Renewable energy technology advancements have continued to progress over theyears, with aims for a more sustainable environment. One particular LDRD project atSRNL is exploring the depths of energy storage systems.Primary batteries are intended to be used once and then recycled. Vanadium redoxflow batteries (VRFB), a rechargeable flow battery, uses vanadium ions in differentoxidation states to store chemical potential energy. These VRFBs are a promisingsolution for grid energy storage and SRNL is exploring the use of photoelectrodes tocombine energy conversion and storage for these batteries.The LDRD project’s primary objective is to develop multicomponent photoelectrodesthat can use various wavelengths of light found in the solar spectrum to directly storeelectrochemical energy in a VRFB.Currently, the project is investigating the fundamental electron transfer mechanismsfor novel photoelectrode nanocomposites. These new materials have yet to be usedas photoelectrodes or as a methodology to directly charge a redox flow battery.Previous methodologies have used semiconductors to charge a redox flow battery,which were limited to the UV portion of the solar spectrum.To produce and evaluate the photoelectrodes, the project is developing an array ofdifferent production methodologies and using simulated sunlight to determine theeffectiveness of each technique. SRNL researchers recently demonstrated viabilityof expanding the solar utilization past the UV into the visible spectrum. As a result,broadband solar absorption to produce usable electrons from various wavelengthsis achievable.Next steps for the project include a fully produced and designed photoelectrochemicalcell to be used in VRFB. If successful, the photoelectrochemical cell can provideopportunities for cost reduction and increased renewable energy penetration.Principal investigator and primary concept inventor Patrick Ward explains the goal inenhancing and developing technology for solar conversion and energy storage.“This capability is new to SRNL and the photoelectrode design concepts are unlikeanything ever attempted before,” said Ward. “The key benefits from this projectare a deeper understanding of photo-induced electron transfer processes, and thedevelopment of solar battery technology that could reduce the cost of renewableenergy conversion and storage from solar resources.” pwww.srnl.doe.govVolume 2, Issue 1 Matter Page 7
DesignMeasurementAsk researcher Tim Krentz what hedoes at SRNL and he will tell you:“I break things to see how they work.”Dr. Krentz is in the Energy Materials group within SRNL’sEnvironmental, Materials, and Energy Sciences Directorate.He works closely with Dr. Scott West in the National SecurityDirectorate and focuses on material embrittlement in thestructural parts and pieces of a gas transfer system (GTS)developed to process tritium for the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Whilethe national lab’s Defense Programs Technology group looks atthe functionality of weapons, Dr. Krentz examines the materialsused in new construction of a GTS.SRNL is a leader in this area of science, collaboratingacross directorates and working closely with Sandia NationalLaboratories in Livermore to ensure material is structurally safein new weapon designs.“We work closely with the Materials Test Facility within SRNLand the broader DOE laboratory complex,” said Dr. GarciaDiaz, manager of the Energy Materials group. “The MaterialsTest Facility does more of the production-type measurementson the effects of tritium on materials and we perform more ofthe fundamental materials research. While we are not in thesame directorate, these efforts are definitely related, and wecollaborate with them and other laboratories to ensure thematerials used to construct our weapon systems are effectiveand safe.” pSince the inception of our nuclear weapons program in the 1950s,looking at how tritium, the central component in effective nuclearweapons, deteriorates the materials where it is stored has beena challenge. As tritium radioactively decays, it deposits heliumin the microstructures of the steel and other materials around it,exacerbating hydrogen embrittlement of the material. This datais significant to the health and estimated life of current stockpilecomponents and future agency designs.Dr. Krentz looks at how new and innovative reservoir and gastransfer systems might perform in the field.“All hydrogen isotopes embrittle metal alloys. We want to knowthat the stainless steel bottles we store things in won’t break,”said Krentz. “The designers need to have good data to say, notonly that our bottle is structurally sound right now but, also, toknow when, down the line, someone needs to change this bottle,it is safe, and there is no chance that it will develop a crack.”Tritium hoodPage 8 Matter Volume 2, Issue 1www.srnl.doe.gov
SAFE STORAGEthrough Materials Science, Engineering and SurveillanceUsing materials science to ensure the continuedsafe storage of our nation’s nuclear materials has long been apatriotic mission at SRNL. Through the Plutonium SurveillanceProgram, SRNL continues to serve as a national leader in securingthe safe storage of the DOE’s plutonium-bearing materials.To understand the goal of the program, it is important to understandthe timeline for the storage of these materials at SRS. The lastproduction reactor at SRS was shut down in 1992. Two years later,the DOE issued the 3013 Directive for “Stabilizing, Packaging, andStorage of Plutonium-Bearing Materials.” This directive was writtento standardize the stabilization, packaging and storage of metalsand oxides for at least 50 years or until final disposition. In 2001,plutonium stabilization and packaging at SRS started and within twoyears the Surveillance and Monitoring program was launched. Afterthe DOE called for all surplus non-pit plutonium to be consolidated atSRS, the 3013 Destructive Evaluation (DE) program started.Overseeing the surveillance and DE programs is the MaterialsIdentification Surveillance (MIS) group, which consists of teammembers from SRNL, Savannah River Nuclear SolutionsEngineering, Los Alamos National Laboratory and experts fromacross the DOE. The job of this team is to verify, through materialsscience and engineering, that plutonium-bearing materials can besafely stored for at least 50 years. Engineers and scientists at SRNLand the MIS have defined a strategy to evaluate the condition of the3013 storage containers and 9975 shipping packages by usingdata collected during field and laboratory surveillance.www.srnl.doe.govSpecifically, SRNL’s role in the program is to analyze thecondition of the containers and shipping packages to assurethe Pu oxide is stored safely. The drums are disassembled andeach part carefully evaluated for any signs of degradation thatcould limit the service lifetime. The stainless-steel containers aredestructively evaluated and analyzed using multiple microscopytechniques, leak detection and analytical chemistry to determineif there are any signs of stress corrosion cracking or othercorrosion mechanisms that could impact the integrity of thecans. In addition, oxide stored in the cans is evaluated todetermine the oxide composition and the presence of off gassesthat could contribute to corrosion. Data are collected, analyzedand reported back to the storage facility and DOE. When anissue arises or is identified, scientists from SRNL and MIS thenwork together to address the concern.In addition to the 3013 DE program, materials scientists continueto study plutonium and the environment it is being stored in.This field surveillance allows scientists to test conditions thatcontribute to the degradation of the stainless-steel canisters.Through database management, SRNL is documenting theperformance of stored containers and able to flag potentialproblems based on shelf-life and surveillance activities.Through this robust storage and evaluation program, materialsscientists at SRNL are helping to ensure the long-term safestorage of nuclear materials at SRS and a safer tomorrow forour country and the world. pVolume 2, Issue 1 Matter Page 9
Aerial view of waste tank farmCombatingCORROSIONCorrosion science is a materials science disciplinecovering the mechanisms and methods of corrosiveenvironments, susceptibility, materialdegradation and control.Corrosion, a naturally occurring chemical and/orelectrochemical process, involves the disintegrationor breaking down of metals and other materials whenexposed to corrosive environments, which can includenatural (air, water) or chemical service. Corrosion takesplace in a variety of forms: General: Occurs uniformly over a large exposed surface Galvanic or Two-metal: Occurs when twodissimilar metals produce an electron flow causingcorrosion-resistant metal to corrode and attack the other Crevice: Occurs within narrow openings, fissures andother shielded areas when exposed Pitting: Localized and occurs on materials exposedto aggressive environments Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC): Occurswhen there is a combined and synergistic interactionbetween tensile stress and a corrosive environment Intergranular: An aggressive form of corrosionthat can occur in specific alloy/service environmentcombinationsSRNL’s experts in corrosion science research workacross program areas and for specialty projects,ultimately applying scientific knowledge to aid inpreserving our nation’s infrastructure and providing for amore sustainable future.Page 10 Matter Volume 2, Issue 1Then and NowDuring the 1950s, DuPont constructed what is now known asSRS: five heavy-water reactors and support facilities to producenuclear materials, such as tritium and plutonium-239. Several SRSfacilities are largely based on nitric acid chemistry, an aggressiveenvironment to many materials that can lead to corrosion.During construction and early operation of the site, several plantfailures involving corrosion occurred, prompting researchers atDuPont and then Savannah River Laboratory (SRL), the predecessorof SRNL, to develop and implement tests and methods to screenmaterials for intergranular corrosion susceptibility. The goal was toprevent future failures and improve plant construction schedules.Several of these testmethods later became ASTMInternational Standards,notably ASTM A262Practice A, B and C. Thesetest methods have beenincorporated into a CorrosionEvaluation (CE) program thathas been used for manyyears by SRNL to screenmaterials used in certain SRSservice environments.SRNL Spent Fuel Rod Work, 1960sToday, SRNL’s Corrosion Evaluation (CE) Program is key inpreventing service failures in critical SRS operating facilities, andreducing the release of hazardous, corrosive and/or radioactivematerials to the environment. The program also minimizesproduction costs, schedule impacts and risks to personnel.SRNL’s work on corrosion science is integral to the current andfuture safe operation and maintenance of spent nuclear fuelstorage containers, high-level waste tanks and concentratedsolar power systems.www.srnl.doe.gov
Legacy Waste – UndergroundLiquid Waste TanksFuel Receipt L BasinLegacy Waste – Spent Nuclear FuelSpent nuclear fuel (SNF) is nuclear fuel that has been irradiatedin a nuclear reactor. Spent nuclear fuel from former reactorsat SRS, as well as from foreign and domestic research reactorprograms, is currently stored safely in an underwater storagebasin facility at SRS.Corrosion degradation by water challenges aluminum-clad SNFand aluminum storage containers used to store the SNF in theSRS basin.SRS has stored radioactive waste in large, underground,carbon steel tanks in support of national defense and U.S.nuclear nonproliferation efforts. High-level waste (HLW)is stored as liquid–sludge mixtures in carbon steel tanks.General and pitting corrosion, as well as stress
across the Department of Energy (DOE). Touching all aspects of SRNL’s DOE mission areas, Materials Science and Technology at SRNL is the driving engine for innovation, providing materials technology and syste
SRNL INL NREL PNNL LBNL ANL SNL ORNL BNL LLNL LANL National Laboratory Injury & Illness Data Per 200,000 Hours Worked, CY 09 Note: Data obtained from DOE Computerized Accident/Incident Reporting System (CAIRS) MTC Rate DART Rate 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 SRNL INL NREL PNNL LBNL ANL ORNL BNL SNL LLNL LANL National Laboratory Injury & Illness Data
SRNL has started working directly with the ASME B31.12 Committee to draft Code requirements for FRP. A proposal for an FRP pipeline demonstration project has been presented to DOE. SRNL will partner with ASME, ORNL and Aiken County to provide a demonstration pr
Keywords: Zinc Containment, TEF, Contamination Control Retention: 25 yrs‐10561 SRNL-STI-2012-00616 Effectiveness of Copp
Chief Information Officer . Presented at University of South Carolina September 27. th, 2016 . SRNL-STI-2016-00552 . . Site History The Atomic Energy Commission builds . PowerPoint Presentation Author: PETTY
DOE-HDBK-1216-2015, DOE Handbook: Environmental Radiological Effluent Monitoring and Environmental Surveillance, which replaced DOE/EH-0173T in 2015, and reference DOE Order 5400.1, DOE Order 458.1, and is a key document in meeting the requirements of DOE Order 436.1, to implement conformation to ISO 14001, Environmental Management System.
2:1 Matter and Energy MATTER: anything that has mass and takes up space Three States (phases) of Matter 1. SOLID: matter with definite volume and shape 2. LIQUID: matter with definite volume but no definite shape 3. GAS: matter with no definite volume nor shape How does Matter Change? PHYSICAL CHANGE: c
Energy Facilities Contractor’s Group (EFCOG) 9 1.3.1 10 CFR 851; § 851.27, Reference Sources. 1.3.2 DOE Order 420.1C, Facility Safety 1.3.3 DOE Guide 420.1-1 Nonreactor Nuclear Safety Design Guide For Use With DOE O 420.1C, Facility Safety 1.3.4 DOE G-420.1-3, Implementation Guide for DOE Fire Protection and Emergency
API 653 Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration and Reconstruction, 3rd 2005 American Petroleum Institute USA Current Inspection, repair, modification and reconstruction of tanks built edition incorporating addendum 1 to API 650 or API 12C and 2 4 . Standard Title Year Publishing body Country Status Primary focus BS EN 14015 Specification for the design and 2004 European Europe Current Design and .
