A Preliminary Evaluation of Using Fill Materials to Stabilize Used Nuclear Fuel During Storage and Transportation

Maheras, Steven J. ; Best, Ralph ; Ross, Steven B. ; Lahti, Erik A. ; Richmond, David J.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S.)

关键词: Used Nuclear Fuel;    Storage;    Transportation;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1052524
RP-ID  :  PNNL-21664
RP-ID  :  AC05-76RL01830
RP-ID  :  1052524

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report contains a preliminary evaluation of potential fill materials that could be used to fill void spaces in and around used nuclear fuel contained in dry storage canisters in order to stabilize the geometry and mechanical structure of the used nuclear fuel during extended storage and transportation after extended storage. Previous work is summarized, conceptual descriptions of how canisters might be filled were developed, and requirements for potential fill materials were developed. Elements of the requirements included criticality avoidance, heat transfer or thermodynamic properties, homogeneity and rheological properties, retrievability, material availability and cost, weight and radiation shielding, and operational considerations. Potential fill materials were grouped into 5 categories and their properties, advantages, disadvantages, and requirements for future testing were discussed. The categories were molten materials, which included molten metals and paraffin; particulates and beads; resins; foams; and grout. Based on this analysis, further development of fill materials to stabilize used nuclear fuel during storage and transportation is not recommended unless options such as showing that the fuel remains intact or canning of used nuclear fuel do not prove to be feasible.