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INL reports findings on unusual quantum behavior of plutonium
Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that plutonium hexaboride (PuB6) displays a type of unusual quantum property called a topological Kondo insulating state. Materials with this property are neither typical electricity conductors nor regular insulators. Rather, they have exterior surfaces that strongly conduct electricity and interiors that block electricity.
James P. Adams, Eric S. Peterson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 102 | Number 3 | June 1993 | Pages 304-312
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT93-A17029
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The iodine concentration in the steam generator secondary vapor must be determined in order to estimate the environmental consequences (i.e., iodine source term to the environment) due to a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR). Experimental evidence indicates that this concentration is sensitive to the liquid-phase pH. A thermodynamic-based calculational approach was used to model the pH during a design-basis SGTR. The EQUILIBRIUM code within the Facility for Analysis of Chemical Thermodynamics was assessed for calculation of pH by comparison with measured pH’s in operating pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The pH was calculated for ten generic PWR designs (one Babcock & Wilcox, three Combustion Engineering, and six Westinghouse). The calculated pH was shown to be relatively insensitive to PWR design. The pH for all designs equilibrated to a value of ∼6.5.