DROP TESTING OF THE DN30 PROTECTIVE STRUCTURAL PACKAGING FOR THE TRANSPORT OF URANIUM-HEXAFLUORIDE

The design of the DN30 protective structural packaging (PSP) developed by DAHER-NCS for the transport of natural, enriched and reprocessed Uranium-Hexafluoride up to an enrichment of 5 wt.% in 30B cylinders was presented at PATRAM 2010 [1]. The presentation given at this time included a description of the design features, information about the mechanical analysis by Finite-Element calculations and an overview about the drop test program. The presentation at hand describes the performance and results of these drop tests which were performed in 2012. The drop tests were carried out in 2012 at the drop test facility of BAM, Germany according to a drop test program which was agreed between NCS-DAHER and the French and German competent authorities. The drop test program consisted of five drop test sequences in different orientations which might lead to maximum damage as requested by the Regulations. Each sequence consisted of a 1.2 m free drop simulating normal conditions of transport, a 9 m free drop and a 1 m drop test onto the bar. The tests were performed with five full scale prototypes of the DN30 PSP and 30B cylinders. To simulate the UF6 content the cylinders were filled with steel balls. As general drop orientations the corner drop valve side, the corner drop plug side, the side drop slap down, the side drop onto the closing system and the flat drop onto the valve side were chosen. The results of these tests are described in the following. Only after the drop tests were completed it became apparent that the supply of the phenolic foam used in the prototypes could not be secured for the serial production. Hence it was decided to change the used phenolic foam to Polyisocyanurate (PIC) foam which requires the repetition of some of the already carried out drop test sequences. In the mean time static and dynamic drop tests with PIC foam samples were performed.The results of which are described in a different presentation at this PATRAM [2]. The outstanding additional drop tests with new prototypes equipped with the new foam will start in September 2013