MANUFACTURING OF A NEW TRANSPORT CASK FOR MOX AND UOX

TN International has design a new cask TN®112 for transport used MOX or U02 assemblies for PWR power plants. The capacity of this unique cask is 12 fuels. A mix of the two types of fuels in any proportion can be loaded. Its heat load can reach 50 KW with a total maximum weight of only 114 t. A B(U) type approval according to AIEA 2005 has been granted. It is intended for the transport between 900 MW reactor plants and La Hague AREVA NC reprocessing plant. The first cask is already in operation and the second unit of the fleet is in construction. The high level of performance has been achieved thanks to very specific materials such as: high strength forged austenitic stainless steel, reinforced gamma shielding materials, TN Vyal BTM resin for neutron shielding, soft aluminium for shock absorption and aluminium metal matrix materials as neutron absorber. The most significant step of the manufacturing are addressed in this paper such as preparing the technical specification, procurement of the main materials, destructive and non destructive testing, special process qualification, welding and assembly, final tests, quality surveillance.