UF6 Sample Package Development

The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) developed the 2000 MED package that is designed to protect an ANSI N14.1 standard 1S sampling cylinder containing UF6 enriched to a maximum 5% 235U. The package was developed as a response to the new IAEA Safety Standards Series TS-R-1, “Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material.” With the new regulations, Competent Authority approval is now necessary for packaging of all shipments of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), including small-volume samples. The globalization of the nuclear fuel industry, where uranium enrichment is often performed on the other side of the world from the next processing step, drives the need for this package. Because there is such a limited quantity of UF6 that can be carried within a sampling cylinder, the package meets the requirements of IAEA TS-R-1 for fissile-excepted material. The 2000 MED package fully complies with the TS-R-1 requirements as a Type H(U) package for land, water, and air transport. The 2000 MED packaging is functionally divided into two parts: (1) the impact-absorbing thermal protection provided by the 2000 MED overpack and (2) the containment vessel consisting of the sampling cylinder. The 2000 MED packaging allows the sampling cylinder to survive both the regulatory free drop test and subsequent fully engulfing fire test. The package’s protective ability combined with a lightweight, easy opening design makes the 2000 MED a functionally efficient package. The 2000 MED package was developed through a series of tests that included two full-scale fire tests. During packaging development, free drop testing was determined to have very little influence on the package design whereas thermal requirements controlled the design. Thermal protection had to be balanced against the need to keep the package as small as possible since it will be used in a laboratory environment and will be air transported. The resulting design allows easy access to the sampling cylinder, yet provides complete protection in an easy-to-handle package, shipped either as a single unit or in a multiple package configuration.