Spent nuclear fuel shipping cask

A transport container is in nuclear technology is a solid steel or cast iron container for the intermediate storage and transport of radioactive materials, for example of fuel or waste products ( " vitrified " ) from reprocessing. Often the container for transport and subsequent interim storage can be used. Discharge of the radioactive material from the container is not required. In Germany transports were hired by the nuclear power plants for the reprocessing plant on 30 June 2005 due to the nuclear phase-out.

The most famous in Germany container type is the CASTOR the Society of Nuclear - Service mbH ( GNS ) from Essen. In addition, there are similar developments in France ( Transnucléaire ) and the UK ( Excellox ). Include the shipping container fuel, they are also called focal element container. Less well known and respected so far in the public transport of uranium hexafluoride and other hazardous substances in connection with the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Radioactive substances for measurement, research and medical purposes in Germany the numerically largest share of the transports.

Security regulations in Germany

The safety regulations in Germany comply with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA). The rules applicable in Germany transport regulations distinguish five categories:

  • Excepted packages,
  • Industrial Packaging (Type IP ),
  • Type A packages,
  • Type B packages,
  • Type C packages.

For the B and C packages special technical safeguards are respected and apply maximum activity values ​​. Among the Type B packages are the reservoir of the brand CASTOR and comparable types. For packages of type B and C type approval of the shipping container is required while container of type IP and A do not require approval. In addition, each transport of nuclear fuels in Germany according to § 4 of the Atomic Energy Act requires approval. The transport company must submit an application to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS ).

Fuel element container

The following types of containers are for fuel used most frequently ( kI = no information available, BE = fuel ):

Germany

France

From the French company Transnucléaire (TN, now a Trade Mark of the Areva subsidiary Cogema Logistics) has the following shipping container models:

Great Britain

The British tank developments include:

Containers for high-level radioactive waste

The following types of containers come for high-level radioactive waste most commonly used ( kI = no information available):

Pressurized water reactor
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