Certification test for Safety of New Fuel Transport Package (Fire Test)

Abstract

Fire tests of actual transport systems for both BWR type and PWR type new fuel assemblies were carried out to clarify their safety margin, create a public perception of the transport programme and offer a data base to verify analytical codes. The supposed scenario of traffic accidents was considered by first reviewing them to select the plan of this work. Next, heating tests of simulated fuel rod elements and fuel assemblies of 1 m length were conducted in an electric furnace to examine their deformation and oxidisation behaviour under high temperature conditions. An analytical code including a simple model was verified by comparison with data obtained in a furnace test simulating a fire accident. Furthermore, simulated fuel assemblies and actual containers of both BWR and PWR types were manufactured. Actual 11 ton trucks carrying them were put in a burn pit 5 m in width, 11·5 m in length and 0·5 m in depth. The fire tests were carried out by burning kerosene for 30 min. These experimental results were analysed by the code.