CASTOR-V/21 PWR spent fuel storage cask performance test
Performance testing of a CASTOR-V/21 PWR spent fuel storage cask manufactured by Gesellschaft fur Nuklear Service (GNS) was performed as part of a cooperative program between Virginia Power and the US Department of Energy. The performance test consisted of obtaining cask handling experience and heat transfer, shielding, and limited fuel integrity data. Five heat transfer test runs were performed with 21 Surry reactor spent fuel assemblies generating approximately 28 kW. Test runs were performed with vacuum, nitrogen, and helium backfills in both vertical and horizontal orientations. Cask exterior surface gamma and neutron dose rates were measured with the cask fully loaded. Gas samples were obtained at the beginning and end of each run with nitrogen or helium backfills to verify fuel integrity. The heat transfer performance of the CASTOR-V/21 cask was exceptionally good. Peak clad temperatures with helium and nitrogen backfills in a vertical orientation and with helium in a horizontal orientation were less than 380/sup 0/C. Vertical vacuum and horizontal nitrogen runs resulted in peak clad temperatures over 380/sup 0/, but the temperatures were not excessively high (<425/sup 0/C). The shielding performance of the cask met the design expectation of less than 200 mrem/h. Cask surface dose rates of <75 mrem/h can easily be established with minor gamma shielding design refinements if desired. Gas samples obtained during testing indicated no leaking fuel rods were present in the cask. It was concluded that the cask performed satisfactorily from heat transfer and shielding perspectives.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA); EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 5740341
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-29985; CONF-860417-1; ON: DE86011027
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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420204* -- Engineering-- Shipping Containers
CASKS
CONTAINERS
DATA
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEAT TRANSFER
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SHIELDING
SPENT FUEL CASKS
TESTING