Study of UF6 cylinder in fire environment and examination

of its radiological consequences

Introduction
Uranium Hexafluoride has become an indispensible component of any growing nuclear industry.
Hence, the radiological and chemical hazard associated with the compound needs a thorough
investigation. Any leakage of UF6 may lead to its reaction with moisture to form Uranyl Fluoride
(UO2F2) and Hydrofluoric acid (HF). While UO 2F2 is a radiological hazard the latter is a very toxic
chemical. So, precautionary studies must be carried out in order to investigate all possible events
which may lead to UF6 vapor diffusion into atmosphere, spillage of liquid UF 6 into surroundings or
dispersion of UF6 particulate into air.

In this context, one particular accident where UF6 containing cylinder is made to encounter a fire
environment requires special attention. This event may not only lead to the consequences mentioned
in the preceding paragraph but also have far more catastrophic impact. The reaction of UF 6 with
moisture is an exothermic reaction which can add energy to an ongoing fire crisis and have
disastrous repercussions. Thus the study of behavior of uranium hexafluoride container in a fire
surrounding is of utmost importance.

Objective of work
The main objective of this study will be to probe into the chain of events that may follow when an
externally induced fire comes in contact with a UF 6 containing cylinder. Different kind of cylinders
may behave differently in a fire environment. Moreover protective covers over the cylinders will
also influence the risk associated with the fire. On the other hand, the intensity, location, source, of
fire will also change the behavior of cylinder. It is envisaged, through this work, to model all
different combinations of instances and inspect the potential of UF 6 coming in contact with air, and
to suggest ways and means to avoid occurrence of any such events. It is further anticipated to make
a pessimistic risk analysis of the situation wherein all the safety mechanisms fail and UF 6 comes in
contact with atmosphere.

Present state of knowledge

The US Nuclear regulatory commission in 1985 wanted consideration to be given on UF 6- fire
issues to make it a part of their accident analysis handbook. Except Mallett, A. J. who reported fire
test results on UF6 cylinders under fire, in 1966, very few experimental studies on this topic is
known so far. B. Duret et.al came up with modeling of UF 6 package behavior in 1983 and compared
their findings with real experiments. M. Suzuki did an experimental and analytical study on heat
transfer of UF6 filled cylinder in 1987. These are some of the most cited reports yet known on the
topic.

Gap Areas
There have been several modeling attempts made by researchers to run a simulation of real fire
scenarios, all of them having their own limitations. While some have simulated the heat transfer
phenomenon very well, not much importance was given to the fire dynamics. Some of them came
up with excellent fire dynamics simulation, but they relaxed the heat transfer parameters. Moreover,
little work has been reported on modelization of diffusion, spillage or dispersion of UF 6 in vapor,
liquid or solid form, once a leakage of UF6 from a cylinder takes place under fire.

Scope of work
There are still several open areas to be investigated in this field which could give us a better insight
to real phenomenon. A non conservative modeling of heat transfer along with a neatly modeled fire
environment is yet to be reported in literature. Besides, there is still a lot of scope to develop a
proper model for dispersion of UF6 into atmosphere. Studies can be done on the reaction kinetics of
UF6 in a fire environment.

Deliverables
The project aims at modelization and simulation of 2D and 3D structures of UF 6 filled cylinder,
with or without heat protective covers, in a fire environment. It is planned to study two different
cases of fire environment viz-a-viz

Case 1.) where the cylinder is totally submerged in fire

Case 2.) where the cylinder is at a certain distance from the fire source

The models will focus on three particular events of cylinder rapture which are-
The Hydraulic breaking of the cylinder by expansion of UF6 in liquid phase
The breaking of the cylinder due to increase of vapor pressure of UF 6 and lowering of
strength of steel at high temperature
Melting of valves and loss of integrity of UF6 cylinder at high temperature

The simulations will be carried out by conservative approach as well as non conservative approach
(i.e. by incorporating various constraints associated with aforementioned events).

The verification of the simulation results will be done by matching it with experimental studies
available in literature.

Further attempts will be made to model the dispersion of UF 6 and various other combustion
products that would be released from the rapture of cylinder.

The radiological hazard under such event will be investigated and suitable prevention and safety
measures will be studied.