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New Developments in the Air Transport of Plutonium
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English
Abstract
A new package for the air transport of plutonium has been developed in response to a United States Public Law which restricts the U.S. air transport of plutonium except for small medical devices. This new package, called PAT-1 for plutonium air transportable package model 1, is the result of the NRC-sponsored PARC (plutonium accident resistant container) project at Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque.
The PAT-1 package is designed to meet or exceed new criteria specified in NUREG-0360. These include a severe test sequence of impact (>250 KTS) on an unyielding target, crush, puncture, slash, a large JP-4 fire for 1 hour, followed by water immersion, with stringent acceptance standards on plutonium release, nuclear shielding, and nuclear criticality.
The PAT-1 package design features a high energy absorption capability with high-level fire protection. It weighs approximately 227 kg (500 lb) when loaded with 2 kg PuO2, and can accommodate up to 25 watts thermal energy from the plutonium load.
Authors
Citation
Andersen, J., "New Developments in the Air Transport of Plutonium," SAE Technical Paper 780870, 1978, https://doi.org/10.4271/780870.Also In
References
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission “Qualification Criteria to Certify a Package for Air Transport of Plutonium,” January 1978
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission “Final Environmental Statement on the Transportation of Radioactive Material by Air and Other Modes,” December 1977
- “Nuclear Regulatory Commission Appropriation Authorization,” Public Law 94-79, 94-1 Congress Washington, DC August 9 1975
- “Packaging of Radioactive Material for Transport and Transportation of Radioactive Materials Under Certain Conditions,” Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations August 19 1975
- “Transportation,” Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations January 1 1975
- Andersen, J. A. et al. “PARC (Plutonium Accident Resistant Container) Program Research, Design, and Development,” Sandia Laboratories Albuquerque, NM July 1978
- “Leakage Tests on Packages for Shipment of Radioactive Materials,” ANSI Standard N14.15 1974 American National Standards Institute 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
- Schwendiman, L. C. et al. Quarterly Progress Report October 1 1977 December 31 1977 “Study of Plutonium Oxide Leak Rates from Shipping Containers,” Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories Richland, WA January 1978
- Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Series 6 1973 UNIPUB, Inc. PO Box 443, New York, NY 10016
- Berry, R. E. et al. “Accident Resistant Container: Materials and Structures Evaluation,” Sandia Laboratories Albuquerque, NM August 1975
- Von Riesemann W. A. Guess T. R. “The Effects of Temperature on the Energy-Absorbing Characteristics of Redwood,” Sandia Laboratories Albuquerque, NM 1978