Seismic Testing of Glovebox Feedthrough Connectors and Vacuum Pumps
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
In the design of tritium processing systems, the glovebox stripper system processes the glovebox atmosphere to recover tritium released inside the glovebox confinement. The glovebox stripper system must also be capable of processing the additional in-leakage caused by a Design Basis Accident (DBA) earthquake, in order to maintain the glovebox pressure negative relative to the room. However, it is unknown how much additional leakage occurs from electrical bulkhead feedthrough connectors after a DBA event. As there are dozens of these connectors on a tritium glovebox system, the potential increase in in-leakage can be significant. One vital part of the glovebox stripper system are the vacuum pumps that maintain the negative atmosphere of the glovebox following a DBA earthquake. The pumps must be able to operate following an earthquake. One candidate pump is the Senior Aerospace MB-602 Metal Bellows (Met-Bel) pump. A second alternative is the hermetically sealed Edwards Vacuum nXDS15iC Scroll Pump. The Edwards scroll pump is potentially a less expensive alternative to the Met-Bel pumps, but it is unknown if this scroll pumps will survive a DBA accident and remain operational. In order to determine the electrical feedthrough in-leakage and the candidate pumps’ survivability, a seismic test was performed to simulate a DBA earthquake. This report summarizes the results of seismic test, including helium leak rates and functionality tests for the electrical feedthroughs and vacuum pumps. All components had pre- and post-test leak rates less than the threshold valve of 1x10-6 scc per sec.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470
- OSTI ID:
- 1568788
- Report Number(s):
- SRNL-STI-2019-00522; TRN: US2100473
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
PDRD Project 19039 - All metal vacuum scroll pump development for tritium
SHINE Vacuum Pump Test Verification