Year
2018
Abstract
Engineering evaluation for different container types used at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been key on basing performance limits for certain programs. Extensive thermal testing has been conducted on the Pipe Over-pack Container (POC). The POC is a vented carbon steel container used for storing and transferring transuranic (TRU) waste limited to 10 grams of Pu-238 packaging, corresponding to 5 Watts of heat. There is a need to technically investigate the thermal payload limit to increase waste loading into a single container. Previous testing of the POC consisted of utilizing Pu-238 heat sources, thermistors and an electrical bullet heater. Thermal testing revealed the POC container is still within its thermal working limit under a payload of approximately 32 watts. The limiting component was the plywood that lies directly underneath the POC that was closest to the experimental heat source. Insolation effects and the addition of waste contents were not considered in testing. ANSYS numerical modeling has complemented the efforts by producing predictions within 6% error of experimental results. Thermal modeling has been an integral part of the investigation to provide timely mannered results with the capability of mocking up various scenarios. Results from testing and modeling confidently show the POC heat load limit can be increased to meet LANL’s transportation requirements. These results will be presented to the Packaging and Transportation (OS-PT) group at LANL to assist in raising the heat source plutonium loading limit.