Transport container (nuclear technology)
In nuclear technology, a transport container is a massive steel or cast container for the intermediate storage and transport of radioactive materials , for example fuel elements or waste products (" glass canisters ") from reprocessing . The containers are often used for transport and subsequent intermediate storage. It is then not necessary to unload the radioactive substances from the container. In Germany, transports from the nuclear power plants to the reprocessing plant were suspended on June 30, 2005 due to the nuclear phase-out .
The best known type of container in Germany is the CASTOR container from the Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH (GNS) from Essen. There are also similar developments from France (Transnucléaire) and Great Britain (Excellox). If the transport casks contain fuel elements, they are also called fuel element casks. The transport of uranium hexafluoride and other dangerous substances in connection with the peaceful use of nuclear energy has so far been less known and noticed by the public .
Radioactive substances for measurement, research and medical purposes make up the largest proportion of transport in Germany.
Safety regulations in Germany
The safety regulations in Germany correspond to the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ). The transport regulations in force in Germany distinguish between five categories:
- exempted packages,
- Industrial packaging (type IP),
- Type A packages,
- Type B packages,
- Type-C packages.
Special technical safety precautions must be observed for the B and C packages and the maximum permissible activity values apply. Type B packages include containers of the CASTOR brand and comparable designs. Type B and C packages require type approval for the transport container, while type IP and A containers do not require approval. In addition, every transport of nuclear fuel in Germany is subject to approval in accordance with Section 4 of the Atomic Energy Act. The transport company must submit an application to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).
Fuel assembly containers
The following types of casks are most frequently used for fuel elements (kI = no information available, BE = fuel elements):
Germany
| Container type | content | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASTOR V / 19 | 19 DWR BE | 121 t (loaded) | Height 5.86 m; Diameter 2.44 m |
| CASTOR V / 52 | 52 SWR -BE | 123 t (loaded) | Height 5.45 m; Diameter 2.44 m |
| CASTOR Ia / Ib | 4 DWR BE | 75/60 t (loaded) | Height 4.55 m |
| CASTOR Ic | 16 SWR-BE | 80 t (loaded) | Height 5.00 m |
| CASTOR IIa | 9 DWR-BE | 116 t | Height 6.01 m; 2.48 m diameter |
| CASTOR 440/84 | 84 WWER -440-BE | 116 t | Height 4.08 m; Diameter 2.66 m |
France
The following transport container models are available from the French company Transnucléaire (TN, today a trademark of the Areva subsidiary Cogema Logistics ):
| Container type | content | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| TN 12/2 | 12 DWR or 32 SWR BE | 102 t (loaded) | kI |
| TN 13/2 | 11 or 12 DWR-BE | 105 t (loaded) | Height 5.60 m; Diameter 2.5 m |
| TN 17/2 | 6 DWR or 17 SWR BE | 72 t (loaded) | kI |
| TN 900 | Special container at the Stade nuclear power plant | 70 t | kI |
Great Britain
UK container developments include:
| Container type | content | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellox 3 / 3A / sB | 5 DWR or 14 SWR BE | 72 t (loaded) | kI |
| Excellox 4 | 7 or 15 DWR-BE | 91 t (loaded) | kI |
| NTL 11 | 7 DWR or 17 SWR BE | 77 t (loaded) | kI |
Containers for high level radioactive waste
The following types of containers are most commonly used for highly radioactive waste (kI = no information available):
| Container type | content | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASTOR HAW20 / 28CG | 28 glass canisters | kI | kI |
| CASTOR HAW28M | 28 glass canisters | 114.4 t (loaded, unloaded 99.6 t) | Height 6.2 m; Outside diameter 2.48 m |
| TN 85 | 28 glass canisters | 110 t (loaded, unloaded 94.7 t) | Height approx. 6.2 m; 2.48 m diameter |
| Excellox | 6 glass canisters | kI | kI |
Web links
- Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport Baden-Württemberg: Transport of spent fuel elements
- Nuclear Service Company
- Transnuclear France
swell
- Brochure "Radioactive Freights on the Move - Nuclear Transports and Safety" (2000) (Editor: Federal Office for Radiation Protection )
- GSF Research Center for Environment and Health: Brochure "Radiant Freight" (1999)
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Atomtransporte-in-der-Kritik-3385010.html Atomtransporte under criticism
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated December 30, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety: Safety requirements for the transport of radioactive substances ( Memento of the original from April 8, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from October 10, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Information from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection
- ↑ message for change of name from Transnucléaire in Cogema Logistics
- ↑ http://www.polizei.niedersachsen.de/castor/casinf/casinf_informationen.htm ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Information from the Lower Saxony police
