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Computational Benchmark for Estimated Reactivity Margin from Fission Products and Minor Actinides in BWR Burnup Credit
Computational Benchmark for Estimated Reactivity Margin from Fission Products and Minor Actinides in BWR Burnup Credit
This report proposes and documents a computational benchmark for the estimation of the
additional reactivity margin available in spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from fission products and minor
actinides in a burnup-credit storage/transport environment, relative to SNF compositions
containing only the major actinides. The benchmark problem/configuration is a generic burnupcredit
cask designed to hold 68 boiling water reactor (BWR) spent nuclear fuel assemblies. The
purpose of this computational benchmark is to provide a reference configuration for the
Review and Prioritization of Technical Issues Related to Burnup Credit for BWR Fuel
Review and Prioritization of Technical Issues Related to Burnup Credit for BWR Fuel
This report has been prepared to support technical discussion of and planning for future
research supporting implementation of burnup credit for boiling-water reactor (BWR) spent fuel
storage in spent fuel pools and storage and transport cask applications. The review and
discussion in this report are based on knowledge and experience gained from work performed
in the United States and other countries, including experience with burnup credit for
pressurized-water reactor (PWR) spent fuel. Relevant physics and analysis phenomena are
Transportation and Storage Subcommittee Report to the Full Commission - Updated Report
Transportation and Storage Subcommittee Report to the Full Commission - Updated Report
To organize its investigation of whether changes are needed in the nation’s current approach to storing and eventually transporting spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste (HLW), the Subcommittee began by asking a series of related questions:
• What role should storage play in an integrated U.S. waste management system and strategy in the future?
Disposal and Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel--Finding the Right Balance--A Report to Congress and the Secretary of Energy
Disposal and Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel--Finding the Right Balance--A Report to Congress and the Secretary of Energy
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended, established a statutory basis
for managing the nation’s civilian (or commercially produced) spent nuclear
fuel. The law established a process for siting, developing, licensing, and constructing
an underground repository for the permanent disposal of that waste.
Utilities were given the primary responsibility for storing spent fuel until it is
accepted by the Department of Energy (DOE) for disposal at a repository —
originally expected to begin operating in 1998. Since then, however, the repository
Spent Nuclear Fuel Discharges from U.S. Reactors 1994
Spent Nuclear Fuel Discharges from U.S. Reactors 1994
A Critical Review of the Practice of Equating the Reactivity of Spent Fuel to Fresh Fuel in Burnup Credit Criticality Safety Analyses for PWR Spent Fuel Pool Storage
A Critical Review of the Practice of Equating the Reactivity of Spent Fuel to Fresh Fuel in Burnup Credit Criticality Safety Analyses for PWR Spent Fuel Pool Storage
This research examines the practice of equating the reactivity of spent fuel to that of fresh fuel for the purpose of performing burnup credit criticality safety analyses for PWR spent fuel pool (SFP) storage conditions. The investigation consists of comparing kf estimates based on reactivity "equivalent" fresh fuel enrichment (REFFE) to kl estimates using the actual spent fuel isotopics.
Spent Fuel Transportation Risk Assessment, Final Report
Spent Fuel Transportation Risk Assessment, Final Report
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for issuing regulations for the
packaging of spent fuel (and other large quantities of radioactive material) for transport that
provide for public health and safety during transport (Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR) Part 71, “Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Waste,” dated
January 26, 2004). In September 1977, the NRC published NUREG-0170, “Final Environmental
Statement on the Transportation of Radioactive Material by Air and Other Modes,” which
Dry Transfer System for Spent Fuel: Project Report: A System Designed to Achieve the Dry Transfer of Bare Spent Fuel Between Two Casks
Dry Transfer System for Spent Fuel: Project Report: A System Designed to Achieve the Dry Transfer of Bare Spent Fuel Between Two Casks
Use of an on-site dry transfer system (DTS) allows utilities with limited crane capacities or other plant restrictions to take advantage of large efficient storage systems. By using this system, utilities can also transfer fuel from loaded storage casks to transport casks without returning to their fuel storage pool.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) of Welded Stainless Steel Canisters for Dry Cask Storage Systems
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) of Welded Stainless Steel Canisters for Dry Cask Storage Systems
Due to the delayed opening of a final geological repository for spent nuclear fuel, the lifespan of dry cask storage systems may be increased to 120 years or longer. To ensure safety over this extended period of interim storage, degradation mechanisms that have the potential to cause penetration of the canister confinement boundary must be evaluated and understood.
NRC SFST ISG-2: Fuel Retrievability
NRC SFST ISG-2: Fuel Retrievability
This Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) provides guidance to the staff for determining if
storage systems to be licensed under 10 CFR Part 72 allow ready retrieval of spent fuel.
This guidance is not a regulation or a requirement.
NRC SFST ISG-7: Potential Generic Issue Concerning Cask Heat Transfer in a Transportation Accident
NRC SFST ISG-7: Potential Generic Issue Concerning Cask Heat Transfer in a Transportation Accident
Staff raised two major issues concerning the adverse effects of fission gases to the gas-mixture
thermal conductivity in a spent fuel canister in a post accident environment. The two major
concerns were: (1) the reduction of the thermal conductivity of the canister gas by the mixing of
fission gases expelled from failed fuel pins and (2) the resultant temperature and pressure rise
within the canister. Since the fission gas is typically of a lower conductivity than the cover gas,
NRC SFST ISG-8: Burnup Credit in the Criticality Safety Analyses of PWR Spent Fuel in Transportation and Storage Casks
NRC SFST ISG-8: Burnup Credit in the Criticality Safety Analyses of PWR Spent Fuel in Transportation and Storage Casks
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 71, Packaging and Transportation of
Radioactive Material, and 10 CFR Part 72, Licensing Requirements for the Independent
Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level Radioactive Waste, and Reactor-Related Greater
Than Class C Waste, require that spent nuclear fuel (SNF) remain subcritical in transportation
and storage, respectively. Unirradiated reactor fuel has a well-specified nuclide composition
that provides a straightforward and bounding approach to the criticality safety analysis of
NRC SFST ISG-9: Storage of Components Associated with Fuel Assemblies
NRC SFST ISG-9: Storage of Components Associated with Fuel Assemblies
The purpose of this ISG is to clarify the technical criteria for types of materials that will be |
considered associated with the storage of spent fuel assemblies. While control rods are |
mentioned in the Standard Review Plan as possible contents, specific information and guidance
is lacking.
Revision 1
NRC SFST ISG-10: Alternatives to the ASME Code
NRC SFST ISG-10: Alternatives to the ASME Code
There is no existing American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code for the design
and fabrication of spent fuel dry storage casks. Therefore, ASME Code Section III, is
referenced by NUREG-1536, “Standard Review Plan for Dry Cask Storage Systems,” as an
acceptable standard for the design and fabrication of dry storage casks. However, since dry
storage casks are not pressure vessels, ASME Code Section III, cannot be implemented
without allowing some alternatives to its requirements.
Revision 1
NRC SFST ISG-11: Cladding Considerations for the Transportation and Storage of Spent Fuel
NRC SFST ISG-11: Cladding Considerations for the Transportation and Storage of Spent Fuel
The staff has broadened the technical basis for the storage of spent fuel including assemblies
with average burnups exceeding 45 GWd/MTU. This revision to Interim Staff Guidance No. 11
(ISG-11) addresses the technical review aspects of and specifies the acceptance criteria for
limiting spent fuel reconfiguration in storage casks. It modifies the previous revision of the ISG
in three ways: (1) by clarifying the meaning of some of the acceptance criteria contained in
NRC SFST ISG-14: Supplemental Shielding
NRC SFST ISG-14: Supplemental Shielding
Guidance regarding supplemental shielding that may be installed at an independent
spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) to meet the requirements of 10 CFR 72.104(a).
NRC SFST ISG-17: Interim Storage of Greater Than Class C Waste
NRC SFST ISG-17: Interim Storage of Greater Than Class C Waste
Guidance is necessary on the interim storage of greater than Class C (GTCC) waste due to the
revision of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 72. The revision to 10
CFR Part 72 is documented in final rule, ìInterim Storage for GTCC Waste,î and permits the
storage of GTCC wastes at independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSI) or monitored
retrievable storage (MRS) facilities. The GTCC wastes, if stored at an ISFSI, must be in solid
form, and stored in a separate container (i.e., GTCC waste may not be stored in a cask that
NRC SFST ISG-18: The Design and Testing of Lid Welds on Austenitic Stainless Steel Canisters as the Confinement Boundary for Spent Fuel Storage
NRC SFST ISG-18: The Design and Testing of Lid Welds on Austenitic Stainless Steel Canisters as the Confinement Boundary for Spent Fuel Storage
The purpose of this ISG is to address the design and testing of the various closure welds (“lid
welds”) associated with the redundant closure of all-welded austenitic stainless steel canisters:
As an acceptable confinement boundary under 10 CFR Part 72.236(e) (Ref. 1) for
purposes of demonstrating no credible leakage of radioactive material during storage
and satisfying the dose limits under normal and off-normal conditions in 10 CFR Parts
72.104(a) and 72.106(b).
NRC SFST ISG-20: Transportation Package Design Changes Authorized Under 10 CFR Part 71 Without Prior NRC Approval
NRC SFST ISG-20: Transportation Package Design Changes Authorized Under 10 CFR Part 71 Without Prior NRC Approval
Authority for licensees to transport radioactive material comes from 10 CFR Part 71. Licensees
are authorized to transport Type B quantities and fissile materials in NRC-certified packages
under the general license in 71.17. Unlike 10 CFR Part 72, Part 71 does not include change
authority, that is, there is no specific Part 71 regulation that allows licensees to make changes in
the design or operation of an NRC-certified package without prior NRC approval. However,
Spent Fuel Transportation Applications— Assessment of Cladding Performance
Spent Fuel Transportation Applications— Assessment of Cladding Performance
This report summarizes the results of EPRI’s multi-year research effort to assess cladding
performance under normal and hypothetical accident conditions of spent nuclear fuel
transportation.
Industry Spent Fuel Storage Handbook
Industry Spent Fuel Storage Handbook
The Industry Spent Fuel Storage Handbook (“the Handbook”) addresses the relevant aspects of at-reactor spent (or used) nuclear fuel (SNF) storage in the United States. With the prospect of SNF being stored at reactor sites for the foreseeable future, it is expected that all U.S. nuclear power plants will have to implement at-reactor dry storage by 2025 or shortly thereafter. The Handbook provides a broad overview of recent developments for storing SNF at U.S. reactor sites, focusing primarily on at-reactor dry storage of SNF.
Used Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste Extended Storage Collaboration Program
Used Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste Extended Storage Collaboration Program
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) convened a workshop of over 40 representatives of the nuclear industry, federal government, national laboratories, and suppliers of used-fuel dry-storage systems to discuss the potential issues associated with extended dry storage of used fuel, that is, storage considerably beyond the term of current and recently proposed U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations. The workshop was held November 18-19, 2009, at EPRI's offices in Washington, DC.
Technical Bases for Extended Dry Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Technical Bases for Extended Dry Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSIs) are currently licensed for 20 years. However, delays in developing permanent spent fuel disposal capability require continued ISFSI storage beyond the 20-year term. This report provides a technical basis for demonstrating the feasibility of extended spent fuel storage in ISFSIs.
Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation: An Overview
Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation: An Overview
Spent nuclear fuel comprises a fraction of the hazardous materials packages shipped annually in the United States. In fact, at the present time, fewer than 100 packages of spent nuclear fuel are shipped annually. At the onset of spent fuel shipments to the proposed Yucca Mountain, Nevada, repository, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects to ship 400 - 500 spent fuel transport casks per year over the life of the facility.