Management of the spent fuel elements of the thorium high temperature reactor THTR-300
- STEAG Kernenergie GmbH, Essen (Germany)
- Hochtemperatur-Kernkraftwerk GmbH, Hamm (Germany)
In a world-wide unique campaign ca. 620,000 spent fuel elements of the thorium high temperature reactor THTR 300 which is being decommissioned, were being transferred within a short period of time to the Ahaus fuel element interim store (BZA) for interim storage. In order to optimize the technical and logistic procedures as part of the pre-decommissioning operation in 1992 and 1993, 42,000 fuel elements which had already been removed from the reactor core were transferred to Ahaus in transport and storage casks of the CASTOR THTR/AVR type that have been specially designed for this purpose. The experiences gained with loading, processing and transport of 20 transport and storage casks during this optimization and testing period led the team to expect a smooth management of the remaining fuel elements. In January 1994, the routine operation of the outward transfer commenced. Until mid-November 1994, 554,400 spent fuel elements were transferred outward into altogether 264 transport and storage casks of the CASTOR THTR/AVR type and transported to Ahaus for interim storage. This was followed by processing of another 21 transport and storage casks until April 1995, accommodating damaged fuel elements and special elements. The work mentioned above was performed by SFEAG Kernenergie GmbH, Essen, on behalf of the reactor operator Hochtemperatur-Kernkraftwerk GmbH, Hamm. The removal of the nuclear fuel from the thorium high temperature reactor THTR-300 marks the completion of the first part of the necessary actions for the decommissioning of the reactor (safe enclosure).
- OSTI ID:
- 178078
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950917--; ISBN 0-7918-1219-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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