The RH-TRU waste canister was designed by Rockwell Hanford Operations to be used by defense waste generator sites in the United States. The canister is designed to be compatible with the requirements of WIPP and the WIPP handling system. The RH waste canister is designed to be vented through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and to meet the DOT "type A" container requirements in 49 CFR 173.400 478. The canister is designed to withstand a 4-ft drop and temperatures to -40 degrees F. Each canister is 121 in (3.1 m) long and 26 in (0.7 m) in diameter, is topped with a standard WIPP pintle, and has a maximum internal volume of 0.89 cubic meters. The RH-TRU canister was designed to incorporate three standard (DOT 7C) CH-TRU waste drums, each 55 gallons (210 liters) in volume. The canister weighs 1,760 lbs (800 kg), with a maximum gross weight of 8,000 lbs (3,629 kg), and has a total surface area of approximately 1.2 10 to the fourth square inches (7.7 square meters).
The canister design utilizes the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard for flanged and reversed dished with flare head. Each canister is fabricated out of ASTM A156-82 grade 70 mild steel, 0.25 in (6.4 mm) thick [Rockwell International, 1984].
Figure A-1![Figure A-1 Shows The canister design utilizes the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard for flanged and reversed dished with flare head. Each canister is fabricated out of ASTM A156-82 grade 70 mild steel, 0.25 in (6.4 mm) thick [Rockwell International, 1984].](images/apg3.gif)
The RH-TRU waste shield plug was designed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Technology Services Division (WTSD) for use by the WIPP project for worker radiation protection when RH canisters are emplaced into horizontal boreholes of the repository rooms and panels. Each plug is 70.0 in (1.8 m) long with a pintle length of 6.25 in (1.6 cm), for an overall length of 76.25 in (1.9 m). Each plug has a 29.0-in (0.8-m) outside diameter and a 25.5-in (0.7-m) inside diameter. The inner end plate of the RH plug is 5.0 in (0.1 m) thick and the outer end plate is 3.0 in (0.1 m) thick. Each plug is fabricated out of ASTM A27 GR, MI steel for the hollow cylinder and ASTM A36 steel for each plate. Each plug weighs 4,215 lbs (1,912 kg).
Each shield plug is to be inserted into the borehole following the emplacement of the RH canister in the repository rooms and panels. The shield plug serves to limit the radiation surface dose rate to the disposal room to less than 5 mrem/hr after the emplacement of the RH waste canister [Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 1984].
Figure A-2![Figure A-2 Shows Each shield plug is to be inserted into the borehole following the emplacement of the RH canister in the repository rooms and panels. The shield plug serves to limit the radiation surface dose rate to the disposal room to less than 5 mrem/hr after the emplacement of the RH waste canister [Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 1984].](images/apg5.gif)
References
Rockwell International, 1984, "User's Manual for Remote-Handled Transuranic Waste Container," RHO-RE-MA-7, Rockwell Hanford Operations.
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1991, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 173, "General Requirements for Shipping and Packaging."
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 1984, Horizontal Emplacement and Retrieval Equipment Detailed Design Report, WTSD-TME-041, Rev. 0, Waste Technology Services Division, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Madison, Pennsylvania, December 1984.