Type C Package Design - Regulatory Impact Test Experimental And Engineering Process

Since the introduction of the Type C package model with the 1996 TS-R-1 edition of the Regulation for safe Transport of Radioactive Material, only few package models have been approved throughout the world. As soon as 1998, CEA was requested to define and undertake a qualification test program leading to commission a new package designed for transportation of radioactive material by air, following all 1996 TS-R-1 regulation requirements. The Type C Package was the response to this request. This new package design had to be designed from scratch because no experience feedback or reference design was available at this time. The design was entirely handled by CEA including the performance tests on a certified tests site. After number of studies and experiments, the type C package model has been finally authorized for transport by the French Competent Authority in 2006. This papers deals with the challenge of designing such a package due to the severity of the regulatory requirements for Type C package. More specifically, this paper explains the engineering process leading to demonstrate that the Type C package design withstands the regulatory 90 m/s impact test. The energy levels reached during the impact (nearly 50 times higher than during a type B drop), and the non-linearity of the behavior of the materials prevented most numerical simulations at the time of study to be accurate. The design has been based on a proven architecture, with no complex system insuring safety functions. Design constraints have also been considered, such as the use of a transport frame, limitation of mass and overall size. A dense wood protection was chosen, which offers a robust mechanical protection and efficient thermal protection. A number of preliminary tests were performed on scale models in different orientations of the package using air pressure cannon on the CEA Tests and Experiments Facility. The results show that the package behaved as expected and all the safety functions remained operational.