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Title: SPENT FUEL SHIPPING CASK FOR PM-1 AND PM-3A NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS HAZARDS SUMMARY EVALUATION

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4066276· OSTI ID:4066276

The design of the spent fuel shipping cask proposed for use in transporting irradiated cores from both the PM-1 and PM-3A Nuclear Power Plants has been evaluated under normal and accident conditions. Specifically, the following aspects of the design were analyzed and evaluated: (1) The lead shielding provided within the walls of the shipping cask and associated attachments assures that ICC regulations of 200 mr/hr at the surface and 10 mr/hr at one meter distance are satisfied. (2) A rugged crash frame, cask shroud, and shipping pallet combination completely envelopes the cask and insures the structural integrity of the cask under all conditions of transport. (3) The fuel bundles, control rods, and poison plates are securely locked within the core shroud by means of a core handling fixture with suitable safety devices to guarantee no possible change in core geometry. (4) Based on an unirradiated core, adequate poisoning in the form of control rods and poison plates is provided to obtain a K/sub eff/ of less than 0.9 during shipment. (5) As a result of conservative calculations, sufficient heat transfer capability has been provided in the shipping cask to dissipate 2 kw of heat with coolant temperatures less than 192 deg F and cask surface temperatures less than 180 deg F with water coolant present. (6) Under loss of coolant conditions with only air as a heat transfer medium, it is shown that the peak fuel temperature is 732 deg F which is 218 deg F below the temperature at which sound fuel elements would rupture. (7) In the event of the remote accident condition in which 5% of the fuel elements are postulated to break into one foot long sections, it is shown that negligible quantities of activity are released to the surrounding environment. As a result of the foregoing conclusions, the proposed spent fuel shipping cask design is adequate for use in transporting spent cores from both the PM-1 and PM-3A plants to the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant with no undue hazard to the health and safety of operating personnel and the general public. (auth)

Research Organization:
Martin Co. Nuclear Div., Baltimore, MD (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AT-(30-1)-2345
NSA Number:
NSA-18-016225
OSTI ID:
4066276
Report Number(s):
MND-M-1856
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English