Disposability assessment: aluminum-based spent nuclear fuel forms
- Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL) (eds.)
Two technologies, melt-dilute and direct disposal, are being developed for treatment and packaging of aluminum-clad, aluminum-based spent nuclear fuel (Al-SNF) assemblies for interim dry storage and ultimate disposal. Direct disposal entails placement of intact fuel assemblies within baskets in a DOE spent nuclear fuel disposable canister. In the Melt-Dilute option, fuel assemblies would be melted, diluted with depleted uranium and the resulting ingots placed in a disposable canister. In both cases, codisposal of the canistered Al-SNF form in a waste package (WP) with vitrified high level waste (HLW) in the Mined Geologic Disposal System (MGDS) has been proposed. Preparation and treatment of the Al-SNF and interim dry storage of the resulting Al-SNF forms in disposable canisters, road-ready for shipment to the MGDS, would take place in a Treatment and Storage Facility (TSF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS). This report provides a technical assessment of the Melt-Dilute and Direct Al-SNF forms in disposable canisters with respect to meeting the requirements for disposal in the MGDS and for interim dry storage in the TSF at SRS. Requirements that apply to disposal of SNF owned by the Department of Energy (DOE) in the MGDS are contained in Section 4, Draft Standards for Spent Nuclear Fuel in Disposable Canisters, of the Mined Geologic Disposal System Draft Disposability Interface Specifications dated February 1998. The “draft” standards and the current canister and waste package designs are based on MGDS designs and operational concepts as of September 1997 and are subject to revision until such time as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issues a construction permit for the MGDS. Requirements for Road-Ready Interim Dry Storage at SRS have been established to enable full, safe retrievability from time of receipt throughout treatment and storage and were derived from regulatory and site-specific criteria.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470; AC09-96SR18500
- OSTI ID:
- 1734669
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-TR-98-00227; TRN: US2214629
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Melt-Dilute Treatment Technology for Aluminum Based Research Reactor Spent Fuel
Technology Development for Dry Storage of Aluminum-Clad Spent Nuclear Fuel - 20490