Fire testing of bare uranium hexafluoride cylinders

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:139633

Pryor, W A ^[1]

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1. PAI Corp., Oak Rige, TN (United States)

In 1965, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP), now the K-25 Site, conducted a series of tests in which bare cylinders of uranium hexafluoride (UF{sub 6}) were exposed to engulfing oil fires for the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), now the US Department of Energy (DOE). The tests are described and the results, conclusions, and observations are presented. Two each of the following types of cylinders were tested: 3.5-in.-diam {times} 7.5-in.-long cylinders of Monel (Harshaw), 5.0-in.-diam {times} 30-in.-long cylinders of Monel, and 8-in.-diam {times} 48-in.-long cylinders of nickel. The cylinders were filled approximately to the standard UF{sub 6} fill limits of 5, 55, and 250 lb, respectively, with a U-235 content of 0.22%. The 5-in.- and 8-in.-diam cylinders were tested individually with and without their metal valve covers. For the 3.5-in.-diam Harshaw cylinders and the 5.0-in.-diam cylinder without a valve cover the valves failed and UF{sub 6} was released. The remaining cylinders ruptured explosively in time intervals ranging from about 8.5 to 11 min.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR00001
• OSTI ID: 139633
• Report Number(s): CONF-9110117--; ON: DE92005283
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
FIRE RESISTANCE
FIRES
MONEL
NICKEL
PRESSURE VESSELS
SAFETY
STORAGE
TESTING
TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE