EFFECTS OF FIRE EXPOSURE ON INTEGRITY OF UF6 SHIPPING CYLINDERS

Two 1 1/2-ton steel cylinders for the transport of uranium hexaflouride within the United States nuclear fuel enrichment cycle were involved in a warehouse fire where portions of the cylinders were estimated to have reached a temperature of 1,600degF (870degC). The cylinders were empty at the time of the fire and therefore were not in protective overpacks in which full product cylinders are handled while in transit. Hydrostatic tests to failure showed that the integrity of the cylinders was not degraded by exposure to the temperatures generated by the fire. They withstood test pressures in excess of 10 times the design pressure, and showed a volume expansion of 30 percent above the original capacity before rupture in a completely ductile fashion. (Author) (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Incorporated

  Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant
  Oak Ridge, TN  United States  37831-7325

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Barlow, C R
  • ZIEHLKE, K T
  • Pryor, W A
• Publication Date: 1985-6-17

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 34 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containers; Crash exposure; Fires; High temperature; Hydrostatic pressure; Nuclear fuels; Uranium
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cylinders; Exposure; Structural stability
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451666
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: K-2056
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:12PM