Session: OAC-04-02 Transportation of Radioactive and other Hazardous Materials II

Paper Number: 62126

Start Time: Thursday, July 15, 2021, 09:00 AM

62126 - Fire-Induced Pressure Response and Failure of Primary Containment Vessels 

For most Deparment of Energy Nactional Nuclear Security Administration sites (DOE / NNSA) , hazardous material (in oxide form) is stored in robust containers with an undetermined response to fire induced thermal stresses. Lack of empirical fire test data requires accident analysts to assume potentially overly conservative accident progressions, such as a high internal pressure (greater than 2000 psig) build-up followed by catastrophic rupture and content release. These potentially overly conservative analysis assumptions have resulted in numerous controls that might realistically be avoided, such as restrictions on inventory and strict limitations on concurrent operations activities in the facility.  

In response to this need, a series of tests were undertaken at Sandia National Labs using representative thick-walled, stainless steel, gasketed primary containment vessels exposed to controlled fire conditions. The thermal - mechanical response of five differently oriented vessels with the same bounding payload, exposed to a standard ASTM - E1529 Fire Environment, produced data that bounded vessel failure modes dependent on payload content and vessel orientation.

Reasoning behind chosen payload content and vessel orientation selection is discussed in this presentation with the aim of demonstrating bounding conditions that encompass vessels of this type. The actual testing is described, and results are discussed.

Presenting Author: Hector Mendoza Sandia National Laboratories

Authors:

Hector Mendoza Sandia National Laboratories
Walter Gill Sandia National Laboratories
Victor Figueroa Sandia National Laboratories
Scott Sanborn Sandia National Laboratories
Ray Sprankle Savannah River Site (SRS), Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS)