Nuclear Criticality Safety of the DOT 9975 Container for237NpO2Storage, Handling, and Transport

Reed, D.A.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

关键词: Criticality;    Storage;    Personnel;    Radiation Accidents;    Transport;   

DOI  :  10.2172/885750
RP-ID  :  ORNL/TM-2003/200
RP-ID  :  DE-AC05-00OR22725
RP-ID  :  885750

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Nuclear criticality safety considerations are presented to address use of the DOT 9975 shipping container for {sup 237}NpO{sub 2}. The DOT 9975 container will be used by multiple DOE sites and contractors. Various of site- and activity-specific NCS and facility safety documents are yet to be developed. For these reasons, an overall assessment of criticality safety of {sup 237}NpO{sub 2}-loaded DOT 9975 containers is considered useful to personnel involved in generating, reviewing, or approving these various documents. It is concluded that inherent container features, the loading per container (maximum of 6 kg {sup 237}Np), and the nuclear physics properties of {sup 237}NpO{sub 2} combine to preclude the potential for a nuclear criticality accident. This conclusion applies to storage, handling, and transport operations involving closed DOT 9975 packages, including credible off-normal conditions that may result in damage to packages during those operations.