OVERVIEW AND EVALUATION OF TRANSNUCLEAR NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION

Transnuclear (TN) through an effective blend of technology development, innovation and strong customer focus has become the leader in the supply of used fuel dry storage and transportation solutions. Both the NUHOMS® and TN Metal Cask product lines have evolved into an extensive line of products with state-of-the-art features to meet the varying needs of our users. TN has developed used fuel dry storage systems with the highest thermal limits and the best shielding of any cask system in the US. TN adapted our European cask designs to meet US NRC requirements to produce the most advanced high heat basket design in the industry today. The new generation systems are the only high heat systems that have received approval from the NRC. TN’s 40.8 kW system is already approved and has been loaded with record heat loads with remarkably low occupational exposure. The heat loads and capacity of the used fuel dry storage systems have far outpaced the ability to provide future transport of this stored fuel. TN is actively upgrading its current transport packages to be closer in line with the future transportation requirements. The TN-40 Cask previously licensed for storage only is being upgraded for storage and transport of high burnup fuel. The TN-68 Dual Purpose Cask is being upgraded to store and transport high burnup fuel. The MP 197 Transport Cask which was originally designed to meet both the European and US requirements for BWR fuel is being upgraded to handle PWR fuel assemblies, higher burnups and higher heat loads. The goal of this upgrade is to achieve heat loads in excess of 26kW for US transport while maintaining European compatibility. The MP TAD Transport Overpack conceptual design is complete. This cask is designed to be used in conjunction with the TAD TN21P and TN44B canister systems with heat loads of approximately 26kW. TN is continually in the process of enhancement and development to bring the most cost effective solutions to the used fuel storage and transport industry.