Application of the extended Pitzer equation to nuclear fuel reprocessing

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Title Application of the extended Pitzer equation to nuclear fuel reprocessing
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Engineering
Department Chemical Engineering
Author Wavada, Matthew J.
Date 2012-05
Description A rigorous method for calculating the activity coefficients of ions in aqueous solutions during nuclear fuel reprocessing is presented along with predictions of the model during the criticality event that took place on October 17, 1978 at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant. Determination and validation of the parameters for the extended Pitzer model were performed using OLI database simulations to supplement available experimental data. Values for the parameters for the neutral species uranyl nitrate (UO2(NO3)2) and nitric acid (HNO3) from Hlushak et al. were determined to accurately predict the activity coefficients of these species without the aluminum nitrate buffer solution present. The parameters for aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3) from Accornero and Marini needed slight modifications for the UO2(NO3)2/HNO3/Al(NO3)3/H2O system used in the extraction process during the event under consideration. The extended Pitzer model was used to calculate the equilibrium constant for extraction at steady?state and then used to predict distribution coefficients in the case of decreasing Al(NO3)3 buffer solution concentrations that led to the accident. Finally, the equilibrium constant was modified to determine the stage?wise distribution based on the uranium mass balance.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Distribution coefficient; Extraction; Nuclear forensics; Pitzer equation
Subject LCSH Reactor fuel reprocessing; Criticality (Nuclear engineering); Idaho Chemical Processing Plant
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Master of Science
Language eng
Rights Management Copyright © Matthew J. Wavada 2012
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 597,171 bytes
Identifier us-etd3/id/671
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections, TK7.5 2012 .W388
ARK ark:/87278/s6000gxd
Setname ir_etd
ID 194835
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6000gxd
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