Präsentation
Filtern
Dokumenttyp
- Vortrag (6)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (1)
- Posterpräsentation (1)
Sprache
- Englisch (8)
Schlagworte
- Leakage rate (8) (entfernen)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (6)
At the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) in Division 3.4 Safety of Storage Containers, one of our tasks is to evaluate the safety of containers designed for disposal of low and intermediate radioactive waste. As such containers might be transported before and stored until disposal, safe enclosure of the radioactive inventory is important for this time span.
Elastomer O-rings are widely used as barrier seals in these containers. Thus, as for many other applications, an understanding of the practical effects of ageing degradation on elastomer seals during long-term exposure is mandatory for predicting the lifetime of such components. According to a long-term test programme on three kinds of rubbers (EPDM and FKM (relevant for application), HNBR (for comparison)), over several years we have studied the degradation and the change of mechanical properties (e.g. hardness, strain at break) at four different ageing temperatures (75 °C, 100 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C) as well as the change of sealing properties. Continuous and intermittent compression stress relaxation (CSR) measurements were performed in order to investigate the respective contribution of crosslinking and chain scission to the observed degradation effects. Thus, the degradation kinetics and mechanisms could be resolved more clearly. For assessing the seal performance, compression set (CS) and leakage rate measurements were conducted. The experimental results showed that the O-rings remained leak-tight under purely static conditions even when CSR, CS and mechanical properties already indicated far advanced degradation. For this reason, a modified leakage test involving a small and rapid partial decompression of the seal was developed that enabled determining an end-of-lifetime criterion for O-rings with a safety margin for thermal shrinkage and vibrations.
The containment systems of transport casks for spent fuel and high radioactive waste usually include bolted lids with metallic or elastomeric seals.
The mechanical and thermal loadings associated with the routine, normal and accident conditions of transport can have a significant effect on the leak tightness of such containment system.
Scaled cask models are often used for providing the required mechanical and thermal tests series. Leak tests have been conducted on those models.
It is also common practice to use scaled component tests to investigate the influence of deformations or displacements of the lids and the seals on the standard leakage rate as well as to study the temperature and time depending alteration of the seals.
In this paper questions of the transferability of scaled test results to the full size design of the containment system will be discussed.
The mechanical and thermal loadings associated with the routine, normal and accident conditions of transport can have a significant effect on the leak tightness of the containment system of transport casks for spent fuel and high radioactive waste. The containment systems of such transport casks usually include bolted lids with metallic or elastomeric seals.
Scaled cask models are often used for providing the required mechanical and thermal tests series. Leak tests have been conducted on those models.
It is common practice to use scaled component tests to investigate the influence of deformations or displacements of the lids and the seals on the standard leakage rate as well as to study the temperature and time depending alteration of the seals.
In this paper questions and open points of the transferability of scaled test results to the fullscale design of the containment system will be discussed.
The containment systems of transport and storage casks for spent fuel and highlevelradioactive waste usually include bolted lids with metallic or elastomeric seals. The mechanical and thermal loadings associated with the routine, normal and accident conditions of transport can have a significant effect on the leak tightness of such containment system.
Scaled cask models are often used for providing the required mechanical and thermal tests series.Leak tests have been conducted on those models.
It is also common practice to use scaled component tests to investigate the influence of deformations or displacements of the lids and the seals on the standard leakage rate as well as to study the temperature and time depending alteration of the seals.
In this paper questions of the transferability of scaled test results to the full size design of the containment system will be discussed.
Rubber is widely used as sealing material in various applications. In many fields the function of seal materials at low temperatures is necessary. Therefore, the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance.
It is known that the material properties of rubbers are strongly temperature dependent. At low temperatures this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition). During continuous cooling, due to the glass transition the material changes from rubber-like entropy-elastic behaviour to stiff energy-elastic behaviour, that allows nearly no strain or retraction. Hence, rubbers are normally used above their glass transition. But as the minimum working temperature limit of elastomers cannot be defined globally and precisely, the lower operation temperature limit of rubber seals should be determined in dependence of the application conditions and the most relevant material properties.
In this paper, wesummarize results of our temperature dependent investigation of seal material properties by classical thermal analysis as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), combined with measurements of standardized tests as compression set and the seal performance determined in component tests. To reduce the test time of compression set tests a faster technique was developed and applied.
To study the influence of dynamic events on the seal performance and to enhance the understanding of occurring seal failure, a setup for a fast partial seal release was designed.
Rubber is widely used as sealing material in various applications. In many fields the function of seal materials at low temperatures is necessary.
Therefore the understanding of failure mechanisms that lead to leakage at low temperatures is of high importance.
It is known that the material properties of rubbers are strongly temperature dependent. At low temperatures this is caused by the rubber-glass transition (abbr. glass transition). During continuous cooling the material changes from rubber-like entropy-elastic behaviour to stiff energy-elastic behaviour, that allows nearly no strain or retraction, due to the glass transition. Hence rubbers are normally used above their glass transition but the minimum working temperature limit is not defined precisely, what can cause problems during application. Therefore the lower operation temperature limit of rubber seals should be determined in dependence of the material properties.
In the past we investigated the material properties and sealing behaviour of elastomeric seals at low temperatures. Additionally we started to study the effect of a small partial release of elastomer seals at low temperatures. To study the influence of dynamic events on seal performance and to enhance the understanding of occurring seal failure, a setup for a fast partial seal release was designed.
In this contribution we focus on the correlation of material properties and component behaviour under different application conditions. It is desired to widen the understanding of the process of seal failure at low temperature.
The investigation of the long-term performance of sealing systems employed in containers for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel is one research focus area for division 3.4 “Safety of Storage Containers” at the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung. The behaviour of metallic seals, which are employed in interim storage casks for used fuel and high active waste, over time is of high importance for ensuring safe enclosure. Therefore, investigations on these systems were started at BAM to get a general understanding of the relevant processes. Our investigations comprise investigations on different parameters which influence the seal performance and the main part is focussed on the time and temperature dependent behaviour.
In this contribution an overview of the performed tests and their respective results will be given. A focus will lie on a comparison between seals with large torus diameter in comparison to small diameters.
Our aim is to understand the long-term behaviour of the sealing systems for evaluation of their performance during possible extended interim storage and subsequent transportation.
Packages for the transport and storage of radioactive materials are often sealed with elastomer or metal seals. These seals are basic components to meet the leak tightness criteria for these kind of packages. An overview over ongoing research and development concerning metal and elastomer seals is given in the presentation. Introductions in the fundamental functionality of elastomer and metal seals are presented. Ageing processes are shown for both components regarding to different ageing effects.