Ultrasonic sealing techniques: A possible solution for safeguarding the containment or storage of spent fuel in an underwater or dry environment

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · JNMM (Journal of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management); (United States)

OSTI ID:6365231

d'Agraives, B C ^[1]

---

1. Commission of the European Communities, Ispra (Italy)

Since 1986, JRC-Ispra has devoted efforts to develop and implement special sealing techniques, aimed at the safeguarding of transport/storage spent fuel containers, in particular in view of their probable long-term storage in storage ponds. The technique has been intensively tested on containers called multielement bottles between 1990 and 1992 at the British BNFL Sellafield plant in the presence of EURATOM and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, on occasion of 11 exercises on site and three in Ispra. The solution makes use of a special sealing-bolt (SB) which is used to replace one of the standard bolts closing the lid of the container. The special SBs are provided with a unique random signature and an internal breaking device. The first feature allows the verification of the SB's identity and the latter checks its integrity status, both verifications being done at once in a few minutes by means of an ultrasonic reading tool and associated computerized ultrasonic/electronic reading equipment. By using laboratory-PC-based and/or portable equipment, any SB can be read or verified in either dry or underwater conditions. There are several applications under study at JRC-Ispra, each requiring the development of a specific mechanical seal/item interface, such as MAGNOX reactor calibrated dead weights for underwater spent fuel weighbridge, pressurized water reactor mixed oxide fresh fuel assemblies or PUO2 transport casks.

• OSTI ID: 6365231
• Journal Information: JNMM (Journal of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management); (United States), Vol. 21:3; ISSN 0893-6188
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
SPENT FUEL CASKS
SECURITY SEALS
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
IAEA SAFEGUARDS
ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LTD
DRY STORAGE
EURATOM
FASTENERS
FUEL POOLS
IAEA
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
INSPECTION
MAGNOX TYPE REACTORS
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
SANDIA LABORATORIES
SELLAFIELD REPROCESSING PLANT
ULTRASONIC TESTING
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS
CASKS
CONTAINERS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
FUELS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GCR TYPE REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL URANIUM REACTORS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
SAFEGUARDS
SEALS
SOLID FUELS
STORAGE
TESTING
THERMAL REACTORS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
055000* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties