Lightning Burnthrough to Containment Breach of 55-Gallon TRU Waste Drums

Technical Report · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1787191· OSTI ID:1787191

Martinez, Leonard E. ^[1]; Pretorius, David ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

We investigated by arc-plasma heating the feasibility of attributing inherent lightning protection to 55-gallon DOT 7A, Type A, open head carbon steel drums made of 1.5 millimeter painted carbon steel, designed to protect Department of Energy transuranic nuclear waste. The Sandia Lightning Simulator transferred continuing current in 300 ampere (A), 400 A, and 500 A tests to achieve a 350 coulomb charge transfer and simulate cloud-to-ground lightning attachment to test coupons and 9 drums. A tungsten electrode was placed 0.75 inch from the drums. High-speed photography was recorded to observe the exterior containment breach, or "first light," seen on camera when burnthrough opened a hole in the containment. Sheet metal burnthrough occurred between 18 and 71 coulombs in lid and rolling hoop tests, but 12-gauge closure ring tests did not result in burnthrough, which suggests this feature may provide an inherent air terminal protective feature.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River National Lab (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1787191
• Report Number(s): SAND-2021-6362; 696636
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE