Hydrogen Getters for Use in the TRUPACT-II

This report provides a detailed review of SRTC results obtained under Phase 1 testing of the Transuranic (TRU) and Mixed Waste Focus Area's (TMFA's) Hydrogen Gas Getters Evaluation. The results of this initial evaluation demonstrate that hydrogen gas getters meet the requirements proposed for transportation of TRU wastes in the Transuranic Package Transporter-II (TRUPACT-II). Recommendations for the Phase 2 efforts to enhance hydrogen getter performance and to complete additional testing are provided. These recommendations are intended to support eventual design and deployment of a hydrogen getter ''system'' that will be approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in shipping TRU wastes. This evaluation reviews the test results for two hydrogen getter materials. The original material proposed for testing as part of the TMFA Hydrogen Gas Getters Evaluation program is a composite called sol-gel metal hydride (SGMH). The effectiveness of SGMH is compared to a second getter m aterial that has been tested for use at the Savannah River Site (SRS) to support transportation of legacy nuclear materials. This alternate getter material meets all of the TMFA requirements and offers several advantages over SGMH including greater hydrogen capacity, ability to maintain lower hydrogen pressures at elevated temperature, and greater resistance to poisons. Based on our experience with these two getter materials, we recommend this alternate material for enhancement during Phase 2 of this program. The alternate getter material presented in this report is a commercial product manufactured by Vacuum Energy, Inc. (VEI) under exclusive license from Sandia National Laboratory (SNL). The material is described in detail by U. S. Patent Numbers 6,063,307 and 5,837,158. Currently, it is used commercially to scavenge hydrogen gas in applications where the presence of hydrogen is undesirable. Examples of such applications include vacuum insulation panels, heat transfer pipes, and batt eries. We are currently communicating with SNL and VEI about developing and testing enhancements of this material that may provide additional advantages as part of an engineered component in the TRUPACT-II