THE NEW ATR FRESH FUEL SHIPPING PACKAGE

A replacement packaging has been developed for the existing Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) Fresh Fuel Shipping Container (FFSC). The existing packaging is nearing the end of its useful service life and a new package is needed to support the fuel deliveries required to continue ATR reactor operations. The A2 value of a single ATR fuel element enables the package to be developed as a single element Type AF shipping container. The package does not utilize traditional energy attenuation devices (impact limiters) but instead relies on the structural integrity of the fuel element itself to maintain geometry for purposes of criticality control. The lack of detailed certified mechanical properties of the fuel material required the use of a production fuel element containing highly enriched uranium (HEU) to support the structural certification activities. This paper discusses the design, development, and certification testing of the new ATR FFSC package.