Presentation made at International Conference on The Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel from Nuclear Power Reactors, An Integrated approach to the Back-End of the Fuel Cycle (IAEA-CN-226). The purpose of the conference was to highlight the importance of an integrated long-term approach to the management of spent fuel from nuclear power reactors.
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of welded stainless steel dry storage canisters may potentially impact systems exposed to corrosive atmospheric elements, such as those occurring near salt water bodies. Conditions important for atmospheric-related SCC include concentration and chemical species of the contaminants, temperature, and humidity. Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant conducted this historically important first inspection of spent fuel canisters to collect data for an SCC evaluation as part of the EPRI-led Extended Storage Collaboration Program (ESCP).
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.
