One factor limiting the production rate of radioactive waste immobilization processes is the rheological limitations imposed by the design of remotely maintained slurry process equipment (i.e. pumps, piping). Rheology modifiers (dispersants/flocculants) that could potentially decrease the yield stress and/or plastic viscosity of radioactive waste slurries were tested on simulated waste to determine which provided the largest decrease in yield stress and plastic viscosity. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine if trace levels of chemical additives could be used to reduce the rheological characteristics of radioactive waste slurries, 2) identify potential chemical additives for this work and future testing, 3) test a limited set of chemical additive candidates on simulated radioactive wastes, and 4) develop advanced techniques to visualize the internal slurry structure and particle-particle interaction within the slurry. Radioactive wastes slurries generated from the production of plutonium and tritium during the Cold War are being (and will be) immobilized in a borosilicate glass matrix using joule heated glass melters at various Department of Energy (DOE) facilities located across the United States. The maximum insoluble solids content of the waste slurries is limited by the design-basis rheological properties (e.g. the Bingham plastic yield stress and plastic viscosity) used to design the slurry handling systems. It is possible to modify the equipment used to mix, sample, and transport the waste slurry. However, the design and construction cost for any such modifications is very high due to the constraints (radiation, non-visible remote operation) imposed on the design and operation of radioactive waste processes. The rheology of two slurries with various rheology modifiers was evaluated using a conventional concentric cylinder rheometer (Haake Rheometer RS150). Only one rheology modifier of those tested was found to decrease the apparent viscosity of the waste slurry by any significant amount and several of the modifiers tested produced the opposite effect. Duramax D-3005 was found to decrease the Bingham Plastic yield stress of simulated radioactive waste slurries by approximately 18%. Selected slurries were further analyzed by a laser scanning confocal microscope. This technique allows the slurry to be analyzed in an unaltered condition. The microscope has the ability to make both two-dimensional pictures and three-dimensional representations of the slurry’s internal structure. The microscope allows the user to understand how particles are flocculated or dispersed throughout a concentrated suspension of heterogeneous simulated nuclear waste slurries.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME/JSME 2003 4th Joint Fluids Summer Engineering Conference
July 6–10, 2003
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Fluids Engineering Division
ISBN:
0-7918-3696-7
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Rheology Modifiers for Radioactive Waste Slurries Available to Purchase
Elizabeth D. Kay,
Elizabeth D. Kay
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, Columbia, SC
Search for other works by this author on:
T. Bond Calloway, Jr.,
T. Bond Calloway, Jr.
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Search for other works by this author on:
David C. Koopman,
David C. Koopman
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Search for other works by this author on:
Robin L. Brigmon,
Robin L. Brigmon
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Search for other works by this author on:
Russell E. Eibling
Russell E. Eibling
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Search for other works by this author on:
Elizabeth D. Kay
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, Columbia, SC
T. Bond Calloway, Jr.
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
David C. Koopman
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Robin L. Brigmon
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Russell E. Eibling
Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC
Paper No:
FEDSM2003-45496, pp. 855-863; 9 pages
Published Online:
February 4, 2009
Citation
Kay, ED, Calloway, TB, Jr., Koopman, DC, Brigmon, RL, & Eibling, RE. "Rheology Modifiers for Radioactive Waste Slurries." Proceedings of the ASME/JSME 2003 4th Joint Fluids Summer Engineering Conference. Volume 1: Fora, Parts A, B, C, and D. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. July 6–10, 2003. pp. 855-863. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM2003-45496
Download citation file:
9
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
The Wall Effect in the Flow of Commercial Lubricating Greases
J. Tribol (July,2016)
Formulas for Calibration of Rheological Parameters of Bingham Fluid in Couette Rheometer
J. Fluids Eng (April,2015)
Thermal Resistance of Particle Laden Polymeric Thermal Interface
Materials
J. Heat Transfer (December,2003)
Related Chapters
Subsection NCA—General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Volume 1, Fourth Edition
Subsection NCA—General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Volume 1, Third Edition
Subsection NCA—General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Volume 1, Second Edition