Deployment Evaluation Methodology for the Electrometallurgical Treatment of DOE-EM Spent Nuclear Fuel
The Department of Energy - Environmental Management (DOE-EM) National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP) is charged with the disposition of legacy Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF). The NSNFP, conducted by Lockheed Martin Idaho Technology Co. (LMITCO) at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), is evaluating final disposition of SNF in the DOE complex. While direct repository disposal of the SNF is the preferred disposition option, some DOE SNF may need treatment to meet acceptance criteria at various disposition sites. Evaluations of treatment needs and options have been previously prepared, and further evaluations are ongoing activities in the DOE-EM NSNFP. The treatments may range from electrometallurgical treatment (EMT) and chemical dissolution to engineering controls. As a planning basis, a need is assumed for a treatment process, either as a primary or backup technology, that is compatible with, and cost-effective for, this portion of the DOE-EM inventory. The current planning option for treating this SNF, pending completion of development work and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, is the EMT process under development by Argonne National Laboratory - West (ANL-W). A decision on the deployment of the EMT is pending completion of an engineering scale demonstration currently in progress at ANL-W. Treatment options and treatment locations will depend on fuel type and location of the fuel. One of the first steps associated with selecting one or more sites for treating SNF in the DOE complex is to determine the cost of each option. An economic analysis will assist in determining which fuel treatment alternative attains the optimum disposition of SNF at the lowest possible cost to the government and the public. One of the major issues associated with SNF treatment is final disposition of treatment products and associated waste streams. During conventional SNF treatment, various chemicals are added that may increase the product and waste stream masses and volumes that are eventually handled, stored, and dispositioned. Thus, when assessing whether or not to treat SNF, the costs associated with final disposition must be determined, in addition to the technical issues and costs associated with the treatment process itself. For this study, a set of questions was developed for the EMT process for fuels at several locations. The set of questions addresses all issues associated with design, construction, and operation of a production facility. A matrix table was developed to determine questions applicable to various fuel treatment options. A work breakdown structure (WBS) was developed to identify a treatment process and costs from initial design to shipment of treatment products tofinal disposition. Costs were applied to determine the life-cycle cost of each option. This technique can also be applied to other treatment techniques for treating SNF.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- OSTI ID:
- 911405
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/CON-98-00882; TRN: US0704556
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste Management '99,Tucson, AZ,02/28/1999,03/04/1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Development of a techno-economic model to optimization DOE spent nuclear fuel disposition
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Related Subjects
BREAKDOWN
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
DISSOLUTION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
EVALUATION
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLANNING
PRODUCTION
US NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
SPENT FUELS
DOE-EM
INEEL
LMITCO
NSNFP
SNF