Conceptual design of a high-integrity impact limiter for use in shipment of dual-purpose spent-fuel casks
- Applied Science and Technology, Inc., Poway, CA (United States)
- Hansen Haelsig Associates, Bellevue, Washington (USA)
A conceptual design for a high-integrity impact limiting system to protect dry metallic spent fuel storage casks during rail transport is proposed. The system is intended to limit the deceleration of the cask during severe rail accidents through three layers of energy-absorbing polyurethane foam material. The crush strengths of the foam is chosen such that the lowest crush strength foam forms the most exterior layer, with the crush strengths increasingly progressively in the two inner layers. The design basis for the external layer of foam is the hypothetical 30-foot free drop impact event prescribed in 10 CFR 71, with a peak steady deceleration limit of about 75 g. The two interior layers absorb up to five times the impact energy of the 30-foot free drop while limiting the decelerations to first 125 g and then to 175 g. The former is felt to be a nominal fuel rod failure threshold, while the latter is at or near the failure level for bolted closure assemblies. These deceleration targets, if met, provide a means for substantially reducing the risk of radioactive material transport. The conceptual design incorporates features for maintaining the integrity of the impact limiter attachment system during severe accidents and enhancing heat dissipation through the impact limiter for short-cooled fuel, through the use of radial aluminum fins. An alternative impact-limiting material -- aluminum honeycomb -- is included in the economic assessment. Both the polyurethane foam and aluminum honeycomb designs appear to meet a cost target of $1.0M, with the polyurethane foam limiter cost estimated at somewhat less than $400K and the aluminum honeycomb cost at somewhat less than $700K. 28 refs., 17 figs., 5 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Applied Science and Technology, Inc., Poway, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6150606
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-NP-7528
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
420204* -- Engineering-- Shipping Containers
CASKS
CONTAINERS
COST
DESIGN
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
IMPACT SHOCK
IMPACT TESTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL TESTS
PERFORMANCE
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAFETY
SHOCK ABSORBERS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPENT FUEL CASKS
TESTING
TRANSPORT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE TRANSPORTATION
WASTES