The shutdown reactor: Optimizing spent fuel storage cost
- Holtec International, Cherry Hill, NJ (United States)
Several studies have indicated that the most prudent way to store fuel at a shutdown reactor site safely and economically is through the use of a dry storage facility licensed under 10CFR72. While such storage is certainly safe, is it true that the dry ISFSI represents the safest and most economical approach for the utility? While no one is really able to answer that question definitely, as yet, Holtec has studied this issue for some time and believes that both an economic and safety case can be made for an optimization strategy that calls for the use of both wet and dry ISFSI storage of spent fuel at some plants. For the sake of brevity, this paper summarizes some of Holtec`s findings with respect to the economics of maintaining some fuel in wet storage at a shutdown reactor. The safety issue, or more importantly the perception of safety of spent fuel in wet storage, still varies too much with the eye of the beholder, and until a more rigorous presentation of safety analyses can be made in a regulatory setting, it is not practically useful to argue about how many angels can sit on the head of a safety-related pin. Holtec is prepared to present such analyses, but this does not appear to be the proper venue. Thus, this paper simply looks at certain economic elements of a wet ISFSI at a shutdown reactor to make a prima facie case that wet storage has some attractiveness at a shutdown reactor and should not be rejected out of hand. Indeed, an optimization study at certain plants may well show the economic vitality of keeping some fuel in the pool and converting the NRC licensing coverage from 10CFR50 to 10CFR72. If the economics look attractive, then the safety issue may be confronted with a compelling interest.
- OSTI ID:
- 220846
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950197-; TRN: IM9620%%240
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) spent fuel seminar, Washington, DC (United States), 13-15 Jan 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of INMM spent fuel management seminar 12: Proceedings; PB: 277 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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