Thermometry of intermediate level nuclear waste containers in multiple environmental conditions

Abstract

Intermediate level nuclear waste must be stored until it is safe for permanent disposal. Temperature monitoring of waste packages is important to the nuclear decommissioning industry to support management of each package. Phosphor thermometry and thermal imaging have been used to monitor the temperature of intermediate level waste containers within the expected range of environmental storage conditions at the Sellafield Ltd site: temperatures from 10 °C to 25 °C and relative humidities from 60 %rh to 90 %rh. The feasibility of determining internal temperature from external surface temperature measurement in the required range of environmental conditions has been demonstrated.