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Title: Life Cycle Management of Radioactive Materials Packaging

Conference · · Packaging, Transport, Storage and Security of Radioactive Material
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  1. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Decision and Information Sciences

The objective of life cycle management of radioactive materials packaging is to ensure the safety functions (i.e. containment of radioactivity, protection against radiation, and criticality safety for fissile contents) during the entire life cycle of the packaging in storage, transportation and disposal. A framework has been developed for life cycle management regarding type B radioactive and fissile materials packaging, drawing upon current US Department of Energy (DOE) storage standards and examples from interim storage of Pu bearing materials in model 9975 transportation packagings. Key issues highlighted during long term storage of Pu bearing materials included gas generation and stability of PuO2+x; other operation safety issues highlighted for interim storage of model 9975 transportation packagings included the need to consider a facility design basis fire event and the long-term behaviour of packaging components such as Celotex and elastomeric O-ring seals. The principles of aging management are described, and the key attributes and examples of effective aging management programmes are provided based on the guidance documents for license renewal of nuclear power plants. The Packaging Certification Program of DOE Environmental Management, Office of Safety Management and Operations, plans to expand its mission into packaging certification for storage and aging management, as well as application of advanced technology, such as radiofrequency identification, for life cycle management of radioactive materials packagings.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Decision and Information Sciences; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad, NM (United States); Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) record. SM (IS Team)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
977355
Report Number(s):
ANL/DIS/CP-60408; TRN: US1002902
Journal Information:
Packaging, Transport, Storage and Security of Radioactive Material, Vol. 18, Issue 4; Conference: 15. International Symposium on Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PATRAM 2007), Miami, FL (United States), 21-26 Oct 2007; ISSN 1746-5095
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

References (1)

Ageing of metallic gaskets for spent fuel casks: Century-long life forecast from 25,000-h-long experiments journal November 2006