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At least 307 records · Page 17

Fifth Status Report: Testing of Aged Softwood Fiberboard Material for the 9975 Shipping Package

Samples have been prepared from a 9975 lower fiberboard subassembly fabricated from softwood fiberboard. Physical, mechanical and thermal properties have been measured following varying periods of conditioning in each of several environments. These tests have been conducted in the same manner as previous testing on cane fiberboard samples. Overall, similar aging trends are observed for softwood and cane fiberboard samples, with a few differences. Some softwood fiberboard properties tend to degrade faster in elevated humidity environments, while some cane fiberboard properties degrade faster in the hotter dry environments. As a result, it is premature to assume both materials will age at the same rates, and the preliminary aging models developed for cane fiberboard might not apply to softwood fiberboard. However, it is expected that both cane and softwood fiberboard assemblies will perform satisfactorily in conforming packages stored in a typical KAC storage environment for up to 15 years. Aging and testing of softwood fiberboard will continue and additional data will be collected. Additional samples will be added to each aging environment, to support development of an aging model specific to softwood fiberboard. Post-conditioning data have been measured on samples from a single softwood fiberboard assembly, and baseline data are also available from a limited number of vendor-provided samples. This provides minimal information on the possible sample-to-sample variation exhibited by softwood fiberboard. Data to date are generally consistent with the range seen in cane fiberboard, but some portions of the data trends are skewed toward the lower end of that range. Two additional softwood fiberboard source packages have been obtained and will begin to provide data on the range of variability of this material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Sixth Status Report: Testing of Aged Softwood Fiberboard Material for the 9975 Shipping Package

Samples have been prepared from several 9975 lower fiberboard subassemblies fabricated from softwood fiberboard. Physical, mechanical and thermal properties have been measured following varying periods of conditioning in each of several environments. These tests have been conducted in the same manner as previous testing on cane fiberboard samples. Overall, similar aging trends are observed for softwood and cane fiberboard samples, with a few differences. Some softwood fiberboard properties tend to degrade faster in some environments, while some cane fiberboard properties degrade faster in the two most aggressive environments. As a result, it is premature to assume both materials will age at the same rates, and the preliminary aging models developed for cane fiberboard might not apply to softwood fiberboard. However, it is expected that both cane and softwood fiberboard assemblies will perform satisfactorily in conforming packages stored in a typical KAC storage environment for up to 15 years. Samples from an additional 3 softwood fiberboard assemblies have begun aging during the past year to provide information on the variability of softwood fiberboard behavior. Aging and testing of softwood fiberboard will continue and additional data will be collected to support development of an aging model specific to softwood fiberboard.

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Status Report - Cane Fiberboard Properties And Degradation Rates For Storage Of The 9975 Shipping Package In KAC

Thermal, mechanical and physical properties have been measured on cane fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to approximately 10 years. The aging environments have included elevated temperature < 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. The results from this testing have been analyzed, and aging models fit to the data. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in KAC, these models allow development of service life predictions.

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Status Report - Softwood Fiberboard Properties And Degradation Rates For Storage Of The 9975 Shipping Package In KAC

Thermal, mechanical and physical properties have been measured on softwood fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to approximately 7 years. The aging environments have included elevated temperature < 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. The results from this testing have been analyzed, and preliminary aging models fit to the data. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with acceptance criteria and an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in KAC, these models allow development of service life predictions.

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Humidity data for 9975 shipping packages with cane fiberboard

The 9975 surveillance program is developing a technical basis to support extending the storage period of 9975 packages in K-Area Complex beyond the currently approved 15 years. A key element of this effort is developing a better understanding of degradation of the fiberboard assembly under storage conditions. This degradation is influenced greatly by the moisture content of the fiberboard, which is not well characterized on an individual package basis. Direct measurements of humidity and fiberboard moisture content have been made on two test packages with cane fiberboard and varying internal heat levels from 0 up to 19W. With an internal heat load, a temperature gradient in the fiberboard assembly leads to varying relative humidity in the air around the fiberboard. However, the absolute humidity tends to remain approximately constant throughout the package. The moisture content of fiberboard varies under the influence of several phenomena. Changes in local fiberboard temperature (from an internal heat load) can cause fiberboard moisture changes through absorption or evaporation. Fiberboard degradation at elevated temperature will produce water as a byproduct. And the moisture level within the package is constantly seeking equilibrium with that of the surrounding room air, which varies on a daily and seasonal basis. One indicator of the moisture condition within a 9975 package might be obtained by measuring the relative humidity in the upper air space, by inserting a humidity probe through a caplug hole. However, the data indicate that for the higher internal heat loads (15 and 19 watts), a large variation in internal moisture conditions produces little or no variation in the air space relative humidity. Therefore, this approach does not appear to be sensitive to fiberboard moisture variations at the higher heat loads which are of most interest to maintaining fiberboard integrity.

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ACAPEX – Ship-Based Ice Nuclei Collections Field Campaign Report

Measurements were sought to evaluate a hypotheses that sea-spray-sourced ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are of biological origin and represent a distinctly different INP population in comparison to long-range-transported desert or urban and regional land-sourced INP, and that the layering of marine within other aerosol layers feeding orographic storms over the mountains of California and the Western United States thereby leads to common and quantifiable scenarios that influence precipitation over the region. Aerosol collections on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel (RV) Ronald H. Brown, for subsequent processing of INP immersion freezing activation temperature spectra and composition analyses, added a valuable measurement component to the ARM Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment (ACAPEX) and related CalWater2 (NOAA) studies for use in parameterizing and modeling the impacts of marine boundary layer and other aerosols on climate and radiation via aerosol indirect effects on mixed-phase clouds. Twenty-five nominally 24-hour collections were made and have been processed for immersion freezing INP number concentrations versus temperature in the mixed-phase cloud temperature regime from -10 to -27°C. The similarity of INP number concentrations compared to typical marine boundary layer values attributed to sea-spray aerosols was noted. Nevertheless, variability of INP concentrations of up to 50 times was noted at individual temperatures over the course of the study. A particular analysis possible with this data set is to examine INP budgets over oceans inside versus outside of atmospheric river conditions. These INP measurements supplemented multiple airborne INP measurements on the ARM Aerial Facility (AAF), and others on the ground during ACAPEX and CalWater2, to provide extensive spatial and temporal analyses of INP immersion freezing spectra during winter storm periods. Future analyses will use thermal sensitivity to examine INP compositions as organic versus inorganic in these marine boundary layer samples. Data set integration is occurring under funding from an Atmospheric System Research (ASR) proposal.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Humidity Data for 9975 Shipping Packages with Softwood Fiberboard

The 9975 surveillance program is developing a technical basis to support extending the storage period of 9975 packages in K-Area Complex beyond the currently approved 15 years. A key element of this effort is developing a better understanding of degradation of the fiberboard assembly under storage conditions. This degradation is influenced greatly by the moisture content of the fiberboard, which is not well characterized on an individual package basis. Direct measurements of humidity and fiberboard moisture content have been made on two test packages with softwood fiberboard and varying internal heat levels from 0 up to 19W. Comparable measurements with cane fiberboard have been reported previously. With an internal heat load, a temperature gradient in the fiberboard assembly leads to varying relative humidity in the air around the fiberboard. However, the absolute humidity tends to remain approximately constant throughout the package, especially at lower heat loads.

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Examination of shipping package 9975-04985

Package 9975-04985 was examined following the identification of several unexpected conditions during surveillance activities. A heavy layer of corrosion product on the shield and the shield outer diameter being larger that allowed by drawing tolerances contributed to a very tight fit between the upper fiberboard assembly and shield. The average corrosion rate for the shield is estimated to be 0.0018 inch/year or less, which falls within the bounding rate of 0.002 inch/year that has been previously recommended for these packages. Several apparent foreign objects were noted within the package. One object observed on the air shield was identified as tape. The other objects were comprised of mostly fine fibers from the cane fiberboard. It is postulated that the upper and lower fiberboard assemblies were able to rub against each other due to the upper fiberboard assembly being held tight to the shield, and a few stray cane chips became frayed under vibratory motions.

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Status Report - Fiberboard Properties and Degradation Rates for Storage of the 9975 Shipping Package in KAC

Thermal, mechanical and physical properties have been measured on fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to approximately 12 years. The aging environments include elevated temperature up to 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. The results from this testing have been analyzed, and aging models fit to the data. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in KAC, these models allow development of service life predictions.

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Examination of Shipping Package 9975-04194

In December 2017, K-Area personnel attempted to open package 9975-04194 to remove its contents. The upper fiberboard assembly could not be initially removed due to an interference fit that had developed against the lead shield. Corrosion of the shield created two specific conditions that caused this interference. First, there was widespread heavy blisters over the shield surface. Corrosion of the lead under the surface (associated with porosity in the as-cast shield which is open to the surface) appears to have caused the blisters to form. Second, corrosion also formed in a gap between the lead shield and the internal stainless steel liner, pushing the top edge of the shield outward into the upper fiberboard assembly. In both cases, portions of the shield are pushed outward since the corrosion product occupies a greater volume than the metallic lead it replaced.

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Ship Task NEL19021 Waste Transportation Surveillance: ASMT 2019-0250

The scope of this surveillance was to observe waste transportation and associated preparation activities to verify compliance with requirements identified in Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) Revision 325 16 00. Programatic controls were reviewed as a whole, and shipment NEL19021, from the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) to NNSS, was witnessed. Two conditions were self-identified by WGS personnel and entered into the condition reporting system. No other conditions or examples of noncompliance were identified during the course of surveillance activities.

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Hydrogen Transport in a Model 9979 Shipping Package with Inner Convenience Cans

Radiolytic hydrogen production and accumulation inside containment packages is a concern at any facility responsible for their packaging, storage, transportation, and/or disposal. When hydrogen gas accumulates to concentrations above the Lower Flammability Limit (LFL) which is 4% or 40,000 ppm in air, the possibility of a deflagration or explosion increases. This concern persists over the course of the package lifetime which is unlimited when disposed of by burial or in permanent repositories. Here, we report on a numerical model used to predict the concentration of hydrogen within each layer of a Model 9979 package containing a convenience can assembly. Simulations show the hydrogen concentration to always be highest in the inner convenience can containing the radioactive source. When the radioactive source is within the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Packaging Limits, the hydrogen concentration is shown to remain well below the LFL at all times including packaging, storage, transportation, and disposal. A hydrogen transport model is presented for a Model 9979 package system containing a nested arrangement of convenience cans, which are tin oxide coated steel cans of various sizes with a slip-lid assembly. The inner convenience can contains the radioactive source material along with an unknown quantity of incidental water acquired from humid air or processing. While visible organic materials such as paper and plastics were purposely excluded from the inner can, it is not possible to claim the wastes are entirely organic free. The inner convenience can is tape sealed and placed into a plastic bag which is horsetail closed (i.e., twisted and taped). The bagged can is placed into an outer convenience can that is also tape sealed. The can assembly is then placed into the 30 gallon drum and subsequently placed inside the 55 gallon drum in the 9979 package. Here we assume hydrogen gas is produced in the inner convenience can from alpha radiolysis of water at a rate dependent on the quantity of uranium isotopes and water present. The hydrogen transport model was used to calculate hydrogen accumulations within the package’s five layers at different times and conditions. These simulations serve two purposes; (i) to build confidence in the model by comparing predicted values to measured values, and (ii) to check the steady state hydrogen concentrations that are approached at long times in the package’s lifetime. Model simulations were compared to gas samples taken from the 30 gallon drum after storage at LANL’s Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building for around 500 days. Hydrogen concentration calculations over much longer periods (i.e., more than 270 years) included extreme storage durations, transportation at extreme cold temperatures, and disposal of packages assuming different average temperatures.

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Fiberboard Properties and Degradation Rates for Storage of 9975 Shipping Packages in KAC (2021 Status Report)

Thermal, mechanical, and physical properties have been measured on fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to 16 years. The aging environments include elevated temperature up to 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. Accelerated aging results have been analyzed and used to build aging models. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions, and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in K-Area Complex (KAC), these models allow development of service life predictions. KAC completed calculations that supported extending the service life of 9975 packages with 3013 and non3013 containers in storage from 15 years to 20 years. These calculations addressed the potential for degraded fiberboard properties following 20 years in storage using degradation models developed previously. The updated degradation models developed in this report have been compared to the assumptions in these calculations, and the current results for fiberboard dimensions, density, radial thermal conductivity, and energy absorption remain consistent with those calculations. The axial thermal conductivity degradation rate slightly exceeds calculations estimate of 0.5% per year between 130 and 160 °F. Additional data will continue to be collected to permit future refinements to the models and assumptions. Some of the predicted degradation rates presented in this report are extreme. However, these relate to environments that do not exist within KAC or would be postulated only as upset conditions that would not likely persist for an extended period. For a typical package stored in KAC with approximately 10-12 watts internal heat load or less, and ambient temperatures below 90 ºF, the fiberboard assemblies experience storage conditions less severe than any of the aging environments. Fiberboard in conforming packages with lower internal heat loads should experience little or no degradation and is expected to provide a service life beyond the currently approved 20 year storage period. Packages with higher internal heat loads may not continue to perform their required safety functions beyond 20 years. Ultimately, service life will be determined by the cumulative effect of degradation from all the conditions these packages might encounter. The results and model predictions presented in this report are applicable to 9975 packages with cane or softwood fiberboard overpack assemblies. These degradation models do not address the effects of nonconforming conditions such as the presence of excess moisture and mold or beetle infestations.

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Fiberboard Properties and Degradation Rates for Storage of 9975 Shipping Package in KAC (2022 Status Report)

Thermal, mechanical, and physical properties have been measured on fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to 17 years. The aging environments include elevated temperature up to 250 °F (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. Accelerated aging results have been analyzed and used to build aging models. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions, and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in K-Area Complex (KAC), these models allow development of service life predictions. KAC completed calculations that supported extending the service life of 9975 packages with 3013 containers in storage from 20 years to 40 years. These calculations addressed the potential for degraded fiberboard properties following 40 years in storage using degradation models developed previously. Due to differences in containers, 9975 packages with non-3013 containers are only approved for 20 years of storage. The updated degradation models developed in this report have been compared to the assumptions in those calculations, and the current results for fiberboard dimensions, density, radial thermal conductivity, and energy absorption remain consistent with those calculations. The axial thermal conductivity degradation rate slightly exceeds calculations estimate of 0.5% per year between 130 and 160 °F. Additional data will continue to be collected to permit future refinements to the models and assumptions. Some of the predicted degradation rates presented in this report are extreme. However, these relate to environments that do not exist within KAC or would be postulated only as upset conditions that would not likely persist for an extended period. For a typical package stored in KAC with approximately 10-12 watts internal heat load or less, and ambient temperatures below 90 °F, the fiberboard assemblies experience storage conditions less severe than any of the aging environments. Fiberboard in conforming packages with lower internal heat loads should experience little or no degradation and is expected to provide a service life beyond the currently approved 40 year storage period. Packages with higher internal heat loads may not continue to perform their required safety functions beyond 40 years. Ultimately, service life will be determined by the cumulative effect of degradation from all the conditions these packages might encounter. The results and model predictions presented in this report are applicable to 9975 packages with cane or softwood fiberboard overpack assemblies. These degradation models do not address the effects of non-conforming conditions such as the presence of excess moisture and mold or beetle infestations.

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