EP1344227A1

EP1344227A1 - Packaging device for bulk transportation of uraniferous fissile materials

Info

Publication number: EP1344227A1
Application number: EP01994933A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierre Malalel
Original assignee: Societe pour les Transports de lIndustrie Nucleaire Transnucleaire SA
Current assignee: TN International SA
Priority date: 2000-12-21
Filing date: 2001-12-20
Publication date: 2003-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-20
Also published as: ATE353468T1; JP2004516483A; ES2282322T3; DE60126507T2; EP1344227B1; US20040071254A1; FR2818790B1; CZ20031706A3; DE60126507D1; JP4298293B2; WO2002050847A1; CZ295170B6; RU2284066C2; FR2818790A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device comprising an inner chamber (10) forming a confinement enclosure for the fissile materials it contains. Said chamber is advantageously made of high-density polyethylene. It is arranged inside a container (12) consisting of an outer shell (26) and an inner shaft (28) separated by a cellular material for thermo-mechanical protection such as a phenolic foam. The design of the container (12) enables to limit deformation of the container (10) liable to rupture the confinement of the fissile material, in case of impact.

Description

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR THE BULK TRANSPORT OF URANIFER FISSIL MATERIAL

DESCRIPTION

Technical area

The invention relates to a device for bulk packaging of uraniferous fissile materials, in particular in the form of powder or pellets, for the purpose of their transport.

The invention applies to the transport of all uraniferous fissile materials capable of causing a chain reaction, such as materials containing uranium 235. Among these materials, mention may in particular be made of uranium oxide powder and pellets Low enriched U0 ₂ , that is to say containing less than 5% uranium 235 by mass.

STATE OF THE ART Existing containers intended for the transport of uranium oxide powder or pellets comprise a hollow body, which internally delimits a closed cavity used to accommodate fissile materials. The hollow body generally has a cylindrical shape. More specifically, fissile materials are usually packaged in metal containers closed by metal hoop covers. The external geometry of these containers is designed to conform to that of the cavity delimited by the hollow body.

The hollow body of the container has, at least at one of its ends, an opening allowing to access the cavity, to introduce and extract from it the container containing the fissile materials. Under normal conditions of transport, this opening is closed by a closing device such as a bolted plug.

The transport of fissile materials is governed by international regulations which impose increasingly severe conditions on containers used for this purpose. These conditions concern the prevention of the risk of criticality, the containment of the transported material and the protection of the public against ionizing radiation.

First, a container capable of receiving fissile radioactive material must be designed to prevent an uncontrolled multiplication of the neutrons emitted by these materials. Otherwise, runaway chain reaction could have serious consequences for people near the container. Indeed, these would then be exposed to radiation due to neutrons emitted almost instantaneously and in very large quantities.

This phenomenon is amplified when a large number of containers are placed in a network, in particular in the event that they are damaged by an accident occurring during transport. This is why the regulations require containers intended for the transport of fissile materials to undergo tests representative of accidental conditions of transport. Preventing the risk of criticality also requires confinement of fissile materials. This function is ensured by all the elements of the container which delimit the closed volume which can be occupied by fissile materials. This set of elements forms what is called the "containment" of the container.

In existing containers, the containment usually includes the body of the container, its closure device and sealing means interposed therebetween.

Furthermore, the most recent international regulations require that possible penetration of water into the containment be taken into account for the assessment of the subcriticality of transport containers.

This tightening of the regulations is explained by the fact that, if the fissile materials are mixed with water, the multiplication of neutrons is greatly amplified by the hydrogen contained in the water. The risks of a criticality accident are therefore potentially increased.

In existing containers, taking into account the possible penetration of water into the containment leads to reducing their transport capacity. This results in increased operating costs.

In addition, recent international regulations impose a test during which a heavy plate is dropped on the container placed on the ground.

This requirement concerns containers with a mass of less than 500 kg and a density less than 1000 kg / m ³ . It is therefore applicable to most of the existing containers used for the transport of uraniferous fissile materials, when these are in the form of powder or pellets of uranium oxide U0 ₂ .

However, the structure of the existing containers intended for the transport of these materials is such that this test would have the consequence of losing the tightness of their confinement enclosure with powder or pellets.

Under these conditions, compliance with the new regulations by containers of conventional design would therefore result in a further reduction in the mass of fissile material transportable in these containers.

In the more general field of transporting loose fluids, and in particular toxic or dangerous chemicals, documents US-A-5,395,007 and US-A-5,595,319 both relate to a reusable container. This container comprises a closed external enclosure and a closed internal enclosure, separated from each other and between which a damping material is interposed. Access holes formed in each of the enclosures and connected by a deformable tubular element allow the entry and exit of the fluids. Separate plugs normally close each of these orifices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject of the invention is precisely a packaging device intended for the transport of fissile uranium matter in powder or in pellets, whose original design allows it to meet the most recent regulatory requirements, while retaining maximum transport capacity.

In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained by means of a packaging device, for the bulk transport of uraniferous fissile materials, comprising a container capable of containing the fissile materials and a container delimiting a cavity capable of receiving the container, through a container opening, intended to be closed by a lid, characterized in that: the container comprises a container opening, intended to be sealed by a plug, to form therewith an enclosure containment of fissile material; the container comprises an external envelope, an internal well delimiting said cavity and a cellular thermomechanical protection material, placed in a space separating the external envelope from the internal well.

In this original arrangement, the fact that the containment consists of the container which contains the fissile material in bulk, closed by its cap, a violent impact producing a significant deformation of the container has no consequence on the confinement of said fissile material . Containment protection is also ensured by the presence of cellular material between

1 outer shell of the container and the internal well in which the container is placed. Indeed, by gradually deforming, this material absorbs the shocks undergone by the external envelope and limits their transmission to the internal well. The cellular material also provides thermal protection of the container against a possible fire.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cap is screwed onto the opening of the container, with the interposition of a seal. This arrangement facilitates access to the interior of the container, while making it possible to preserve the confinement in the event that a particularly severe shock would cause its deformation.

In this preferred embodiment, the container comprises a neck integrating the opening of the container, a cylindrical main part and a frustoconical part connecting the neck to the cylindrical main part. The frustoconical part of the container is then able to deform without breaking the confinement, under the effect of a shock oriented along the axis of the container.

Advantageously, the opening of the container then has a diameter at least equal to 60% of the diameter of the cylindrical main part. To further facilitate the preservation of confinement even in the event of limited deformation of the container and its cap, these are preferably made from a material chosen from the group comprising plastics, stainless steels and aluminum alloys . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this material is high density polyethylene.

Advantageously, the thermomechanical protective cellular material is phenolic foam.

In addition, the lid of the container preferably cooperates with the opening of the latter by a bayonet mechanism. This mechanism opposes any axial ejection of the container containing the fissile material, in the event of a violent impact.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a container cap is provided to be interposed between the cover and the cavity capable of receiving the container. This container stopper then advantageously incorporates a perforated metal plate, advantageously made of light alloy. This plate absorbs the shocks suffered by the container, at its opening, in a radial direction. It therefore also contributes to avoiding excessive deformation of the container and, consequently, to preserving its confinement.

In this case, a layer of the cellular material and a layer of a thermal protection material such as plaster are also integrated into the cap of the container, for example on the exterior and interior faces of the perforated plate, respectively.

In order to protect the public against ionizing radiation, the internal well includes a peripheral wall which incorporates a screen neutron. This peripheral wall is completed by a bottom wall.

Brief description of the drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing, in which the single figure is an exploded perspective view, with partial cutaway, which shows a containment device according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

As illustrated in the single figure, the containment device according to the invention mainly comprises a container 10, capable of containing uranium fissile material in bulk, as well as a container 12 internally delimiting a cavity 14 in which the container can be placed 10. The term "loose uranium fissile material" means here, as throughout the text, all fissile material containing uranium and in the form of a powder, pellets or in any comparable form . It should be noted that the fissile materials in bulk can be placed either directly inside the container 10, or in one or more bags of flexible plastic material facilitating handling, themselves received in the container 10. Among the fissile materials , the invention advantageously applies, although not exclusively, to the transport of a powder and lozenges uranium oxide U0 ₂ containing less than 5% by mass of uranium 235.

The containment device illustrated in the figure has, conventionally, a cylindrical geometry. Consequently, the container 10 and the container 12 both have a longitudinal axis generally oriented in a vertical direction.

The container 10 has a cylindrical main part 16, of uniform diameter, closed downwards by a flat bottom, not visible in the figure. The main cylindrical part 16 is extended upwards by a frustoconical part 18. At the top end of the frustoconical part 18, the container ends in a neck 20, provided with a thread on its outer peripheral surface. The neck 20 internally delimits an opening through which the fissile material can be introduced into the container 10 and be extracted therefrom. A container stopper 22 is provided to be screwed onto the thread of the neck 20, with the interposition of a seal 24, in order to seal the opening of the container 10.

More specifically, the seal 24 is a planar annular seal, of rectangular section, designed to be interposed between two opposite planar surfaces formed respectively in the bottom of the plug 22 and on the upper end edge of the neck 20. To facilitate handling, the seal 24 is preferably trapped in the bottom of the plug 22, so as to be linked to the latter when it is screwed and unscrewed. In the arrangement which has just been described, the container 10, closed in leaktight manner by its plug 22 with interposition of the seal 24, forms a confinement enclosure for the fissile materials it contains. In other words, the fissile materials in bulk contained in the container 10 are confined vis-à-vis the outside by this same container, when it is closed by its cap 22.

The container 10 and its stopper 22 are made of a material such as plastic, stainless steel or an aluminum alloy.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this material is high density polyethylene. The use of this material makes it possible to guarantee the preservation of the confinement of fissile materials even in the event of a geometric deformation of the container and / or of its cap. Indeed, high density polyethylene has a flexibility and elasticity allowing a significant geometric deformation without risk of rupture. In addition, this material is deformed in such a way that any ovalization of the opening of the container is accompanied by comparable ovalization of the stopper, so that the seal provided by the seal 24 is preserved. The elastic deformation of high density polyethylene combined with the frustoconical shape of the part 18 of the container 10 makes it possible to avoid a rupture of the confinement when the container is compressed along its longitudinal axis. Indeed, this then results in a simple reduction in length of the part 18.

It should be noted that the ability of the container 10 to deform without breaking its seal makes it possible to give the diameter of the opening formed in the neck 20 a relatively large value, which facilitates the filling and emptying of the container. Thus, the diameter of the opening of the container 10 is advantageously at least equal to 60% of the diameter of the main cylindrical part of the container.

As illustrated in the single figure, the container 12 mainly comprises an outer casing 26 and an internal well 28 delimiting the cavity 14. These two components are separated by a space filled with a cellular material 30 of thermomechanical protection.

More specifically, the outer casing 26 is constituted by a metal sheet, preferably made of stainless steel. This sheet includes a cylindrical part, of constant diameter, and a generally flat bottom part. The upper end of the aforementioned cylindrical part is open and equipped on its internal face with the female part 32 with a bayonet mechanism.

The internal well 28 is also produced by means of a metal sheet, preferably made of stainless steel. This sheet includes a cylindrical part, of constant diameter, and a generally flat bottom part. These two parts are spaced at all points from the corresponding parts of the outer casing 26, to provide at the periphery and in the bottom of the container 12 said space in which the cellular material 30 is received. In addition, the cylindrical part of the internal well includes two coaxial metal walls, between which a neutron absorbing material is trapped 34. This material is a neutron absorbing resin, which ensures the prevention of the risk of criticality.

The upper end of the internal well 28 is open, so as to allow the introduction of the container 10 into the cavity 14 and its extraction, when the members which normally ensure the closure of the container 12 are removed.

The internal well 28 is mechanically connected to the external envelope 26 by a stepped wall 36, also made of stainless steel. This wall 36 connects the upper end of the internal well 28 to the upper end of the outer casing 26, below the female part 32 of the bayonet mechanism. Thus, the wall 36 also closes upwards the space in which the cellular material 30 is received.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figure, the cellular material 30 consists of phenolic foam.

This material has the advantage of being deformed in an identical or very similar manner regardless of the direction of the force applied. It therefore provides isotropic and effective shock absorption whatever the angle of fall of the container.

Phenolic foam also has the advantages of being self-extinguishing and having a low thermal conductivity as well as good temperature resistance. It therefore also provides very good thermal protection for the container 10.

As shown in the single figure, the opening formed at the top end of the container 12 for allowing the introduction and extraction of the container 10 is normally closed by a cover 38, under which is placed a container cap 40.

More specifically, the cover 38 is a metal part, preferably made of stainless steel. It comprises a peripheral part 42, comprising on its outer surface a male part 44 of the bayonet mechanism, the female part 32 of which is carried by the upper part of the outer casing 26. The male 44 and female 32 parts of the bayonet mechanism are provided to cooperate with each other in order to secure the cover 38 of the container 12 when they are engaged. The peripheral part 42 of the cover 38 is then housed in the upper part of the outer casing 26.

The cover 38 also includes a bottom 46, a peripheral region of which, projecting downwards, is intended to bear against a high shoulder 48 of the stepped wall 36, when the male 44 and female 32 parts are engaged. A cleanliness seal 50, made of foam, is glued to the upper shoulder 48. This seal prevents the penetration of dust and moisture under the cover 38. However, it does not in any case constitute a seal comparable to seal 24 which confines the fissile material inside the container 10.

The cover 38 further comprises a gripping part, such as a crosspiece 52, placed inside the peripheral part 42, above the bottom 46. This gripping part allows an operator to rotate the cover 38 in a sense or in the other, depending on whether he wishes to close or open the container 12.

In addition, a device (not shown) is provided to oppose any rotation of the cover 38 when the male 44 and female 32 parts are engaged. This device comprises, for example, a blocking pin placed in a hole which passes radially through the upper part of the outer casing 26 as well as the peripheral part 42 of the cover. The anti-rotation device may also include a cable to be sealed, received in a hole comparable to the previous one.

The cap 40 of the container 12 is placed below the cover 38, so as to rest on a low shoulder 54 of the stepped wall 36, without interposition of seals. The stopper 40 is then spaced from the lower face of the cover 38 and the upper face of the stopper 22 of the container 10, when such a container is placed in the cavity 14.

The cap 40 of the container 12 has the external shape of a disc. It comprises a perforated plate 56, placed between an upper layer 58 of thermomechanical protection and a lower layer 60 of thermal protection. A metal jacket 62, preferably made of stainless steel, envelops the assembly thus formed.

The perforated plate 56 is a solid metal plate, preferably made of aluminum alloy. It is traversed over its entire thickness and over its entire surface by perforations, for example of circular section as illustrated in the figure. The perforated plate 56 has the function of absorbing the shocks applied radially to the outer casing 26 of the container 12, at the level of the access opening provided in the upper part thereof. The damping is obtained by a controlled deformation of the plate 56 in the radial direction, made possible by the presence of the perforations. It results in a controlled ovalization of the upper part of the container 12, without breaking the confinement of the container 10.

On the contrary, a shock exerted along the axis of the container 12 is not absorbed by the plate 56, but by the thermomechanical protective layer 58 which overhangs it. This protective layer 58 is advantageously made of the same cellular material 30 as that which is interposed between the outer casing 26 and the inner well 28, that is to say made of phenolic foam.

Like the cellular material 30, the layer 58 of cellular material provides both mechanical protection and thermal protection of the container 10.

The function of the lower layer 60 is to complete the thermal protection, at the level of the opening of the container 12. It is preferably made of plaster.

In order to reduce handling during loading and unloading operations, as well as the risk of human error when closing the containment device, a flexible chain can be used, optionally, to connect the plug 40 and the cover 38 This chain is then made, for example, of stainless steel. To avoid the accumulation of moisture on the cover 38, in the case of storage outside, a protective cap 64, made of plastic, can be placed above the cover 38. The cap 64 is then fitted on the upper edge of the outer casing 26 of the container 12.

The containment device according to the invention, as has just been described by way of example with reference to the single figure, makes it possible to ensure, in a simple manner, the containment of the uranium fissile material in bulk that 'it contains, in all the circumstances provided for by the most severe regulations. This result is obtained by the joint use of an internal container which is impermeable to the finest powders, thus constituting a containment enclosure for said materials, and of a container whose design makes it possible to avoid deformation of the container capable of to break said confinement. As illustrated schematically in the figure, vents 66 pass through the outer casing 26, the cellular material 30 and the outer wall of the inner well 28. These vents 66 are normally closed by fusible pads at the casing 26. They allow the evacuation of the gases released by the neutron absorbing resin 34 and by the cellular material 30, in the event of a fire. Comparable vents can also be provided in the cap 40 of the container 12.

Claims

1. Packaging device, for the bulk transport of uranium fissile material, comprising a container (10) capable of containing the fissile material and a container (12) delimiting a cavity (14) capable of receiving the container (10), through a container opening, intended to be closed by a cover (38), characterized in that: - the container (10) has a container opening, intended to be sealed by a plug (22), to form a fissile material containment therewith; - The container (12) comprises an outer envelope (26), an internal well (28) delimiting said cavity (14) and a cellular material (30) of thermomechanical protection, placed in a space separating the outer envelope (26) from the internal well (28).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cap (22) is screwed onto the opening of the container (10), with the interposition of a seal (24).

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the container (10) comprises a neck (20) integrating the opening of the container, a main cylindrical part (16) and a frustoconical part (18) connecting. the neck (20) to the main cylindrical part (16).

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the opening of the container (10) has a diameter at least equal to 60% of the diameter of the main cylindrical part (16).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container (10) and its stopper (22) are made of a material chosen from the group comprising plastics, stainless steels and aluminum alloys .

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said material is high density polyethylene.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the cellular thermomechanical protection material is phenolic foam.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the cover (38) is able to cooperate with the opening of the container (12) by a bayonet mechanism (32, 44).

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which a container cap (40) is provided to be interposed between the cover (38) and the cavity (14) capable of receiving the container (10).

10. Device according to claim 9, in which the container stopper (40) incorporates a perforated metal plate (56).

11. Device according to claim 10, in which the container stopper (40) also integrates a layer (58) of said cellular material and a thermal protection layer (60).

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the internal well (28) comprises a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, and the peripheral wall integrates a neutron absorbing screen (34).