ML21078A089
| ML21078A089 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/15/2021 |
| From: | David Pstrak Division of Fuel Management |
| To: | |
| Pstrak D | |
| References | |
| Download: ML21078A089 (10) | |
Text
Transportation of Radioactive Material David Pstrak Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Transportation and Siting for Fission Batteries Workshop March 15, 2021
Domestic Transportation Regulations 2
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) co-regulate radioactive material transportation
- NRC transportation regulations (10 CFR Part 71)
- DOT transportation regulations (49 CFR Parts 107; 171 - 180)
- NRC only regulates a portion of radioactive material transportation
- NRC and DOT regulations are compatible
- The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
(44 FR 38690), published July 2, 1979, delineates the respective agency responsibilities http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/regulatory/enforcement/moudot.pdf
Activity and Packaging Types 3
Transportation Packages
- Type A fissile package (Type AF)
- Less than a Type B quantity (less than A2 value in 10 CFR Part 71, Table A-1)
- A2 value for uranium (U) with enrichment 20 weight percent U-235 is unlimited (see Table A-1)
- Type B package (Type B or Type BF)
- Greater than A2 value from 10 CFR Part 71, Table A-1
- Enrichments >20 weight percent U-235, mass dependent 4
4
Packaging and Transportation Philosophy
- Three safety functions
- Shielding - limit external radiation dose rates
- Containment - limit release of radioactive material
- Subcriticality - prevent criticality in transport
- NRC reviews/approves the package design that was evaluated 5
Transportation Tests
- Normal conditions of transport (10 CFR 71.71)
- Hot and cold temperatures
- Reduced and increased external pressure
- Vibration
- Water spray
- Free drop (1 to 4 feet)
- Corner drop
- Compression test
- Penetration test
- Hypothetical accident conditions (10 CFR 71.73) foot drop test inch puncture test minute fire at 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit
- Immersion test 6
Transportation Tests contd
- Tests for fissile packages transported by air (10 CFR 71.55(f))
- Tests for plutonium package transported by air (10 CFR 71.88, 10 CFR 71.64 and 10 CFR 71.74) 7
Package Approval Criteria
- Type AF Type BF package
- Criticality safety
- Single package
- Array of packages
- ContainmentType B packages only
- Leakage rate testing for Type B packages (10 CFR 71.51, Additional Requirements for Type B Packages)
- Shielding
- Dose rates in 10 CFR 71.47, External Radiation Standards for All Packages after tests for normal conditions of transport
- Dose rate less 1 rem/h at 1 m from the package surface after tests for hypothetical accident conditions (10 CFR 71.51) 7 8
Unlimited A2 Type AF Unshielded package Fission battery Usage Heavily shielded Type BF package
Radiation level limits (10 CFR 71.47 and 49 CFR 173.441) 9
Contact Information
- David Pstrak David.Pstrak@NRC.gov (301) 415-7053
- Bernie White Bernard.White@NRC.gov (301) 415-6577 10