Investigative report on the PVC bag burst in the contamination incident at Plutonium Fuel Research Facility; Radiolysis of organic materials and raising of internal pressure

Cause Investigation Team for the PFRF Contamination Incident

The contaminated accident occurred at Plutonium Fuel Research Facility on June, 2017. The PVC bag packaging in a fuel storage container burst when a worker opened the lid, and a part of contents (uranium and plutonium) was spattered over the room. In order to clarify the cause of the burst, the Cause Unfolding Team collected information concerning characteristics of the contents from any past records and interview. And then we observed and analyzed the contents in a glove box. We also performed experiments on radiolysis of organic materials, degradation of PVC bag by radiation, and PVC bag burst. Based on fault tree analysis, finally we concluded that the main gas generation source was alpha radiolysis of the epoxy resin mixed with the fuel powder. We hope that the calculation procedures for the gas generation and the inner pressure transition described in this report can be useful reference for the management of fuel storage in other facilities.