Uranium transport

Nuclear power is not a promising option in the context of hydrogen corridors. First, it is cheaper to transport uranium or enriched uranium, or even electricity, instead of hydrogen. Second, there may be acceptance problems related to nuclear power in some countries (on both sides the production country as well as the consumer country). 

B) R. DeWitt, Uranium Hexafluoride A Survey of the Physico-Chemical Properties , GAT-280, Goodyear Atomic Corp, Portsmouth, Contract AT<33-2>1 (1960) C) L.S. Allen, A Parametric Survey of Criticality-Limited Fast Reactors Employing Uranium Fluoride Fuels , TR32-198, Jet Propulsion Lab, Contract NAS-7-100 (1962) D) C.A. Geffen et al, Assessment of the Risk of Transporting Uranium Hexafluoride by Truck and Train , Battelle, Richland, Contract EY-76-C-06-1830 (1978)... 

The importance of corrosion product mass transfer was realized first in the early operation of NRU. Here the solubility of the oxide formed on the aluminum fuel sheathing led to the production of a colloidal alumina floe in the heavy water. The mechanism for its formation, means to control it, and the role it played in transporting uranium and fission products released from failed fuel were studied (55, 56). 

The NRC also imposes special security requirements for spent fuel shipments and transport of highly enriched uranium or plutonium materials that can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. These security measures include route evaluation, escort personnel and vehicles, communications capabiHties, and emergency plans. State governments are notified in advance of any planned shipment within their state of spent fuel, or any other radioactive materials requiring shipment in accident-proof. Type B containers. 

In addition, uranium and lead transport mechanisms ia radioactive minerals have been studied ia order to evaluate the suitabiUty of mineral phases as hosts for radioactive wastes. Zircon is one of the most commonly used geochronometers, as well as a proposed nuclear waste matrix material, and there are many mechanisms by which uranium and lead can migrate through its stmcture (19). 

Owing to the stability of the uranyl carbonate complex, uranium is universally present in seawater at an average concentration of ca. 3.2/rgL with a daughter/parent activity ratio U) of 1.14. " In particulate matter and bottom sediments that are roughly 1 x 10 " years old, the ratio should approach unity (secular equilibrium). The principal source of dissolved uranium to the ocean is from physicochemical weathering on the continents and subsequent transport by rivers. Potentially significant oceanic U sinks include anoxic basins, organic rich sediments, phosphorites and oceanic basalts, metalliferous sediments, carbonate sediments, and saltwater marshes. " ... 

During the conversion process, the object is to create uranium hexafluoride (UF ), a highly corro-sh e substance that is gaseous at high temperatures, but is a white crystalline solid at lower temperatures. Uranium hexafluoride is easily transported in its ciystalline form to an enrichment facility (the step taken after conversion), but the gaseous form is well suited for the enrichment process, itself. First, the... 

Keppler H, Wyllie P (1990) Role of fluids in transport and fractionation of uranium and thorium in magmatic processes. Nature 348 531-533... 

Porcelli D, Andersson PS, Wasserburg GJ, Ingri J, Baskaran M (1997) The importance of colloids and mires for the transport of uranium isotopes through the Kalis River watershed and Baltic Sea. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61 4095-4113... 

Borole DV, Krishnaswami S, Somayulu BLK (1982) Uranium isotopes in rivers, estuaries and adjacent coastal sediments of western India Their weathering, transport and oceanic budget. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 46 125-137... 

Moulin V, Ouzounian G (1992) Role of colloids and humic substances in the transport of radio-elements through the geosphere. Appl Geochem (Suppl. Issue 1 179-186 Murakami T, Ohnuki T, Isobe H, Sato T (1997) Mobility of uranium during weathering. Am Mineral 82 888-899... 

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