Behavior of a Container for UF sub 6 under Accident Conditions

摘要

Transport of uranium hexafluoride during the different phases of the fuel cycle is carried out using containers of various types that must meet the safety requirements provided for in the specific international regulations for this area. Qualification of the behavior of the 30B cylinder and its respective overpack under reference accident conditions for the purpose of design and utilization of such containers is currently a subject of interest on an international level, since it is being widely used in a number of countries. To contribute to this qualification process, a relatively complex research program was defined and developed, including, among other things, drop tests from 9 m on to an unyielding target, drop tests from a height of 1 m on to a cylindrical bar, and thermal tests in a furnace, all of which were carried out on two complete specimens of the same container with a simulated load. For analysis of the damage a series of leak tests and a water immersion test were developed to analyze the damage to the two specimens mentioned above and to a container of reduced dimensions designed for this purpose and equipped to reproduce conditions similar to the real conditions inside the container under investigation. Evaluation of the heat exchange conditions that could exist in the container given real contents of uranium hexafluoride was also conducted using a series of calculations carried out with the computer code TRUMP. The results of the different types of experiments and calculations performed and presented in detail in the present study have made it possible to draw useful conclusions for practical evaluation of the reliability of the container under investigation, also in view of the intended goal of container qualification as per the existing regulations for transport of radioactive material. 21 refs., 44 figs., 3 tabs. (ERA citation 12:028366)