Monday, July 14, 2014
Temperature estimates of breached LANL waste drums at WIPP
Based on the photographic evidence3 of the color of the steel on the breached LANL drum, a small area of the drum reached a minimum temperature of 340°C4. The maximum surface temperature of the drum is bounded by the critical temperature of low-carbon steel5,6 (700-870°C)7 due to the apparent lack of structural deformation on the site of the discoloration. The immediately adjacent drums do not show signs of radiant heat damage that would exceed 230°C, the auto ignition temperature of paper8. The damage to container gaskets, polypropylene backfill bags, shrink wrap, and slip sheets indicate a room wide temperature sufficient to cause the polymers in these items to flow or melt without burning which will happen at approximately 170°C9. Based solely on the photographic information it appears that some surfaces on the LANL drum may have reached temperatures of up to 700-870°C10 and the waste in a large portion of the room reached temperatures up to 170°C11 to 230°C12. The evaluation that follows is based on this temperature range.
http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/NMED/Issues/documents/LANL__Carlsbad_Report_on_the_Thermal_Effects_on_the_Waste_in_Panal_7_with_Cover_Note_2_July_.pdf
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18 comments:
The study assumes that we (LANL) placed the Waste Stream cited in the study in the drum. Bad assumption. I've worked at the Waste Characterization, Compaction, and Reduction Facility (WCCRF). Believe, we are always directed by management to place unknown and uncharacterized articles (maybe explosives) in the drums that go to WIPP. Why? What else can we do with them?
It is ironic that LANL is in trouble for mishandling its environmental program. Recall that one of the scandals that came out about Charlie's hand-picked deputy was that her husband was on the LANL payroll to "help out" with the environmental program.
As to how in world NNSA/DOE allowed LANL to ship nitrate salts as a permitted waste stream is an absolute mystery. This decision confirms NNSA/DOE have no brains!
LANL has executed 300 experiments to determine the conditions that resulted in the WIPP drum explosion or fart. I wonder if LANL is inadvertently trying to duplicate cold fusion. Science "gone wild"!
July 22, 2014 at 7:14 PM
Considering who is in charge of the mess, this is not a surprise.
My god, did anyone think that it was a hydrogen explosion?
July 24, 2014 at 9:03 AM
Yeah, but Terry Wallace knows there no interesting science there.
LANL has executed 300 experiments to determine the conditions that resulted in the WIPP drum explosion or fart. I wonder if LANL is inadvertently trying to duplicate cold fusion. Science "gone wild"!
July 22, 2014 at 7:14 PM
Don't laugh at this idea, the most recent explanation by Terry Wallace is that the conditions in the exploding WIPP drum were perfect for cold fusion.
Terry Wallace is proposing experiments at NIF on kitty litter to validate the new equation of state (EoS) that T-division has recently developed.
Wallace is fielding "kitty litter" hydro shots at DAHRT and subcritical "kitty litter" experiments at NTS.
Time for a "Kitty Litter Cookoff". Call up Sandia for instructions.
Jokes aside, this is a troubling revelation. Is the compomised containment being adequately addressed technically?
This is indeed a troubling revelation, and one that is no joking matter. Unfortunately, thus far it does not appear that anyone at LANL has been up to the task of addressing the situation.
Does anybody have any actual knowledge of what is going on, related to this subject. You would think that there would be studies in progress to not only estimate the worst-case temperatures, pressures, etc., but also to narrow down the time frame and the specific containers that might be at risk (i.e. those using organic kitty litter). What's happening on those fronts?
What's happening on those fronts?
July 31, 2014 at 1:14 PM
Not to worry, Terry's on it!
Not to worry, Terry's on it!
July 31, 2014 at 3:15 PM
Priceless!
Great! I feel better already!
Who's Terry?
Who's Terry?
August 1, 2014 at 9:01 AM
The Amazing Shrinking AD.
Terry, Terry, quite contrary.
How does your story go?
With political mums and exploding drums,
and wild tales all in a row.
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