Y-12 ES-3100 Type B Shipping Container - The New Industry Standard

The Y-12 National Security Complex has developed a state-of-the-art, Type B fissile material-shipping container - the ES-3100.  The ES-3100 is the U.S. Department of Energy's replacement for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Specification 6M container; however, its capabilities far exceed that of the 6M.
 

This general-purpose fissile material container will accommodate many forms of highly enriched uranium and other special nuclear materials in bulk quantities for ground and air transport.  The package uses a patented insulation technology and a containment system with a critically safe geometry of 5-inch inner diameter.  The inner length of 31 inches is ideal for many conceivable content configurations.
 

The ES-3100 is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under certificate number USA/9315/B(U)F-96 and meets all the requirements of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 71.  The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a Competent Authority Certificate.

Y-12 continues to enhance the ES-3100 shipping container.  Many amendments to the license have already been approved and several are under review.  Future capabilities of the container include transporting other material forms such as Pu oxide in STD-3013 canisters, transporting materials that require shielding and transporting heat-generating materials.  The ES-3100 has the potential to transport any fissile material.

• Nuclear Container Welder Nuclear Container Welder
• 9975 Overpack Drum 9975 Overpack Drum
• Another 9975 Overpack Drum Another 9975 Overpack Drum
• THE Y-12 ES-3100 Type B THE Y-12 ES-3100 Type B
• Inside View Y-12 ES-31-Type B Inside View Y-12 ES-31-Type B
• Interior Containments Interior Containments
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Features of the ES-3100

• Offers 100% more capacity than the 6M
• Has a capacity of up to 31 inches of content length
• Licensed for HEU metal, oxide and crystal up to 33Kg U-235
• Transports oxide in the form of UO2, UO3, or U3O8
• Transports metal forms such as broken pieces, ingots, buttons and small castings
• Transports HEU fuel forms
• Approved for all air transport
• Has a gross shipping weight of 420 pounds

Containment Vessel Attributes

• Single containment system
• Stainless steel construction designed to ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III
• Easy-to-install head closure with one nut to tighten
• Double O-ring seal
• Leak testable to 10^7 std cc/sec per ANSI N14.5

Outer Drum Attributes

• Stainless steel construction
• Kaolite 1600 refractory insulation offers thermal protection and impact resistance
• Permanent neutron absorber encapsulated in liner
• Easy-to-install top plug and lid with only eight fasteners
• Silicone rubber shock insulation pads throughout

The ES-3100 shipping container passed hypothetical accident conditions tests that exceeded IAEA requirements in TS-R-1 including sequential 30-foot drop and crush tests.  The maximum temperature of the containment system after the accident-conditions thermal test was 240 degrees F (116 degrees C).  There was no degradation of components after the accident-conditions test.