Non-Nuclear Non-Destructive Testing Methods to Determine Free Water, Gas Pressure and Matrix Level in Waste Drums

Ziel

The objective of the project is the further development of various non-destructive testing (NDT) methods to check complete packages filled with radioactive waste for unwanted substances. These methods are acoustic impedance measurement, Lamb wave attenuation measurement, a pressure compensation method, and the analysis of cover resonances. These four NDT methods are to be integrated into one unit consisting of a mechanical device, which will execute the various handling operations stepwise, and a PC based measuring and control system. In detail, the following properties are to be determined:
- free water on the matrix surface,
- the matrix level, and
- the internal gas pressure in full-size 200 litre drums of 1.5 mm wall thickness (rolling hoop and rolling channel drum) filled with concrete to different levels.
The aim of the work is the further development of various non-destructive testing (NDT) methods to check for unwanted substances in complete packages filled with radioactive waste. In detail, the following properties are to be determined from outside: free water at the matrix surface;
the matrix level; and the internal gas pressure. The NDT methods to be applied were found to be suitable in a previous screening study. These methods comprise the acoustic impedence measurement, Lamb wave attenuation measurement, a pressure compensation method, and the analysis of cover resonances. Main objects of investigation are full size 200 litre drums of 1.5 mm wall thickness (rolling hoop and rolling channel drums) filled with concrete to different levels.

Besides some consideration of the general design of a testing unit including all 4 NDT methods and besides sample preparation, the work has concentrated so far on detecting matrix and free water levels and the pressure compensation method for measurement of internal gas pressure.
Work programme:

A number of methods and techniques have had to be developed and/or refined namely:

Acoustic impedance measurement (AIM) for detecting matrix and free water levels

Measurement of Lamb wave attenuation to determine free water and matrix levels

Measurement of internal gas pressure using the pressure compensation method

Measurement of internal gas pressure by cover resonance frequency analysis.
General work: Integration of the NDT methods into a handling and measuring unit. Preparation of the test objects, information exchange, evaluation of the results, and reporting

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet

Programm/Programme

FP2-RADWASTOM 4C - Specific research and technical development programme (Euratom) in the field of management and storage of radioactive waste, 1990-1994

Thema/Themen

A.3.4 - Quality control of waste conditioning

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

Data not available

Finanzierungsplan

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Koordinator

Battelle-Institut eV

EU-Beitrag

Keine Daten

Adresse

Am Römerhof 35
60486 Frankfurt am Main
Deutschland

Gesamtkosten