Combustion simulation of transportation package performance in severe, long duration fire using computational fluid dynamics tools

Radioactive material transportation packages demonstrate their robustness through stringent testing under CNSC and IAEA regulations. One such test subjects a transportation package to an 800^oC, fully engulfing fire for 30 minutes. That regulatory fire test bounds conditions in historic transportation fire accidents but its severity is difficult to communicate to the general public; especially relative to real world transportation accidents involving severe fires. NWMO is building an advanced computational fluid dynamics combustion model to simulate real-world long duration transportation accident fires. This fire simulation model will help study transportation package performance and help bridge the information gap between the 30 minute regulatory thermal test and real world long duration transportation accident fires. This paper describes the development and benchmarking of NWMO's combustion simulation model; as well as challenges encountered and lessons learned. (author)