Thermal Stress in HFEF Hot Cell Windows Due to an In-Cell Metal Fire
This work investigates an accident during the pyrochemical extraction of Uranium and Plutonium from PWR spent fuel in an argon atmosphere hot cell. In the accident, the heavy metals (U and Pu) being extracted are accidentally exposed to air from a leaky instrument penetration which goes through the cell walls. The extracted pin size pieces of U and Pu metal readily burn when exposed to air. Technicians perform the electrochemical extraction using manipulators through a 4 foot thick hot cell concrete wall which protects them from the radioactivity of the spent fuel. Four foot thick windows placed in the wall allow the technicians to visually control the manipulators. These windows would be exposed to the heat of the metal fire. As a result, this analysis determines if the thermal stress caused by the fire would crack the windows and if the heat would degrade the window seals allowing radioactivity to escape from the cell.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1246160
- Report Number(s):
- INL/JOU-15-34471
- Journal Information:
- World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Vol. 06, Issue 01; ISSN 2161-6795
- Publisher:
- Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Criticality detector exclusion zone in a spent-fuel hot cell
Cost Savings of Nuclear Power with Total Fuel Reprocessing