REA-2023 BWR cask performance test

A performance test of a REA 2023 spent fuel storage cask sponsored by the Department of Energy was conducted at GE Morris Operation during the winter of 1984/85. The cask was configured for BWR spent fuel storage. The performance test matrix included 14 runs consisting of two loadings, two cask orientations, and three fill conditions. The first five test runs were conducted with a partially loaded cask so that temperatures and radiation dose rates could be better approximated for the fully loaded cask. The next six test runs were conducted with a fully loaded cask. The final three test runs included insulation of the neutron shield to raise the surface temperature of the cask to more nearly reflect what it would have been in the summer. The maximum recorded temperature in the cask was 2410C for an evacuated fully loaded insulated cask. Its surface temperature was 950C. The maximum surface dose rate on the cask was about 200 mrem/hr at an anomaly on the bottom of cask. Elsewhere the dose rate on the top and bottom of the cask did not exceed about 100 mr/hr. The average dose rate of the side of the cask was about 20 mr/hr with spike reaching 40 mr/hr in areas near the top and bottom of the cask. Prior to conducting the performance tests, dry runs were conducted of the cask handling procedures and the Cooper spent fuel assemblies were characterized by calorimetry and radiation scans. Each fuel assembly was inspected to assure that no failed fuel was put into the cask. Sipping results (pre- and post-test), gas sampling, and visual inspection of the fuel did not identify any degradation of the fuel during the performance tests