Alternative Thermal Test of a Transport Package in a Laboratory Facility

This paper describes an oil-fired burner test apparatus at General Plastics Manufacturing Company in Tacoma, Washington and the results of tests to demonstrate alternative testing compliance with IAEA thermal tests requirements. The paper discusses the parameters influencing the thermal conditions for type B-packages. An alternative test method for simulating a pool fire environment using an oil burner, 55-gallon drum, and exhaust hood is verified to be suitable for smaller packages. This alternative was developed as a low cost test conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, and to mitigate air pollution due to sooting smoke from large pool fires. During the fire trial, the fire temperatures were measured carefully to determine a true average fire temperature. A series of tests were conducted. One fire test was performed to develop and verify the thermal parameters to demonstrate compliance to IAEA thermal test requirements, paragraph 728. Another fire test of a typical package was done to validate the testing method. The testing method provides adequate combustion air to support any combustion of package materials, which is a weakness of furnace tests. An MDS Nordion transport package for the transport of medical isotopes designed in Ottawa, Ontario was tested using this laboratory method. Test parameters and results are discussed. The advantage of using laboratory type testing is that more test cycles are possible resulting in an optimized design.