The Romanian experience on testing and quality acceptance criteria of packages used for transportation and storage of radioactive wastes

Full text: The transport of radioactive wastes generated by nuclear facilities from non-power applications (research institutes, hospitals, nuclear fuel work) in Romania is one of the important subprograms of Romanian Waste Management and the overall aim is to promote the safe transport of the radioactive materials in Romania. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations on 'Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials' the package is the main instrument to ensure safety during handling, transport and storage of radioactive materials. After emphasizing the importance of the packaging tests in ensuring that the requisite safety features built into the design of packages comply with the Romanian Nuclear Regulatory Body - National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) requirements and with IAEA's Regulations, the paper presents the type and production testing for type A packages (containers) which have been developed within Institute for Nuclear Research (INR) Pitesti taking into consideration that packages (drums) when tested to this requirements, should prevent: loss of dispersal of the radioactive contents, and loss of shielding integrity which results in more than a 20% increase in radiation level at any external surface of the package. The criteria used for successful testing of type A packages are: 'would prevent loss or dispersal'. The wastes to be packaged are generated by INR TRIGA research reactor, by the post-irradiation laboratory and radiochemistry activities such as: metallic pieces, protection equipment, used ion exchanger, organic liquid radioactive wastes, used filters, etc. The paper describes and contains: a review of the qualification tests that have been laid down to simulate different conditions encountered during transport, normal conditions as well as the accident. These tests have been performed in order to simulate specific or accident scenarios and to produce the same kind of amount of damage that account for the different accident environment during transportation; quality assurance and quality controls measures taken in order to meet technical specifications provided by the design are also presented and commented. The effect of these tests varies considerably with the size of the packages and, in general, it may be said that the free drop test has little or no effect on small packages, or even on larger packages, provided that the containment feature is adequately designed. The penetration test is effective only on small packages. Time and expense in testing can, of course, be saved if a standard series of packaging is developed A review of the safety-risk analysis as well as the evaluations of the radiological consequences associated with the transportation of radioactive wastes in Romania, by road and by rail are also presented. The paper concludes that the justification for containment, based on the use of freight container and the pessimistic assessment of potential inhalation doses to those persons involved in the packaging and transport of radwastes, proves that the containers are suitable for classification as an Industrial Type 3 (IP-3). Background: This paper presents a layout of the results of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Scientific Research Contract entitled 'Approach of Safety-Risk Assessment associated with transport of low activity radioactive waste to the disposal center, in Romania' where the author served as Chief Scientific Investigator. (author)