System and method for storing and leak testing a radioactive materials storage canister

摘要

A system for storing radioactive materials includes a canister having a first hermetically sealed vessel having a first cavity, a second hermetically sealed vessel having a second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity, an interstitial space between the first and second vessels, and a test port through the second vessel in fluidic communication with the interstitial space. A conduit has a first end fluidically coupled to the test port, and a removable seal is operably coupled to a second end of the conduit.

主权项

1. A method of leak testing a storage canister for radioactive materials, the method comprising:
a) positioning the canister in a cask cavity of a cask body, the canister comprising a first hermetically sealed vessel defining a first shell having a first cavity in which the radioactive materials are disposed and a second hermetically sealed vessel defining a second shell having a second cavity, the first vessel having a first lid enclosing the first cavity and the second vessel having a second lid enclosing the second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity such that an interstitial space exists between the first and second vessels comprising a first portion between the first and second shells and a second portion between the first and second lids, and wherein the second vessel includes a test port that is in fluidic communication with the second portion of the interstitial space between the first and second lids; b) coupling a first end of a conduit to the test port, the conduit extending from the first end to a second end located outside of the cask body; c) securing a cask lid to the cask body to substantially enclose the cask cavity; and d) sealingly coupling a leak detector to the second end of the conduit, the leak detector configured to draw gas from the conduit and the interstitial space and to perform a leak test comprising determining whether a leak exists in at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel.