Cracked lifting lug welds on ten-ton UF{sub 6} cylinders
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Piketon, OH (United States)
Ten-ton, Type 48X, UF{sub 6} cylinders are used at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to withdraw enriched uranium hexafluoride from the cascade, transfer enriched uranium hexafluoride to customer cylinders, and feed enriched product to the cascade. To accomplish these activities, the cylinders are lifted by cranes and straddle carriers which engage the cylinder lifting lugs. In August of 1988, weld cracks on two lifting lugs were discovered during preparation to lift a cylinder. The cylinder was rejected and tagged out, and an investigating committee formed to determine the cause of cracking and recommend remedial actions. Further investigation revealed the problem may be general to this class of cylinder in this use cycle. This paper discusses the actions taken at the Portsmouth site to deal with the cracked lifting lug weld problem. The actions include inspection activities, interim corrective actions, metallurgical evaluation of cracked welds, weld repairs, and current monitoring/inspection program.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76OR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 139657
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9110117-; ON: DE92005283; TRN: 94:007284
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. international conference on uranium hexafluoride handling, Oak Ridge, TN (United States), 29-31 Oct 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1991]; Related Information: Is Part Of Uranium hexafluoride handling; Proceedings; PB: 295 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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