Summary of Preliminary Criticality Analysis for Peach Bottom Fuel in the DOE Standardized Spent Nuclear Fuel Canister

Technical Report · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/769058· OSTI ID:769058

Henrikson, Deborah J. ^[1]

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1. Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company, Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory

The Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program is developing a standardized set of canisters for DOE spent nuclear fuel (SNF). These canisters will be used for DOE SNF handling, interim storage, transportation, and disposal in the national repository. Several fuels are being examined in conjunction with the DOE SNF canisters. This report summarizes the preliminary criticality safety analysis that addresses general fissile loading limits for Peach Bottom graphite fuel in the DOE SNF canister. The canister is considered both alone and inside the 5-HLW/DOE Long Spent Fuel Co-disposal Waste Package, and in intact and degraded conditions. Results are appropriate for a single DOE SNF canister. Specific facilities, equipment, canister internal structures, and scenarios for handling, storage, and transportation have not yet been defined and are not evaluated in this analysis. The analysis assumes that the DOE SNF canister is designed so that it maintains reasonable geometric integrity. Parameters important to the results are the canister outer diameter, inner diameter, and wall thickness. These parameters are assumed to have nominal dimensions of 45.7-cm (18.0-in.), 43.815-cm (17.25-in), and 0.953-cm (0.375-in.), respectively. Based on the analysis results, the recommended fissile loading for the DOE SNF canister is 13 Peach Bottom fuel elements if no internal steel is present, and 15 Peach Bottom fuel elements if credit is taken for internal steel.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 769058
• Report Number(s): DOE/SNF/REP--041
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONTAINERS
CRITICALITY
Canisters
Criticality safety analysis
Disposal
FUEL ELEMENTS
Fissile loading
GRAPHITE
Handling
NUCLEAR FUELS
National repository
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Peach bottom
SAFETY ANALYSIS
SPENT FUELS
Spent nuclear fuel
Storage
Transportation