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.

This project, involving the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EPRI, reflects the high interest both organizations have in the development of a transfer system. Earlier work performed for EPRI showed that a small cask to large storage cask fuel-transfer system to overcome existing plant limitations was feasible. In addition, many storage systems are not transportable. As plants start to be decommissioned, it may be necessary to transfer fuel from storage casks to transportation casks without returning to a spent fuel pool. A dry transfer system could be used to transfer fuel assemblies from storage casks or small transfer casks to MPCs in transport or storage overpacks.