Feasibility of Dry Cask-to-cask and Pool-to-cask Spent Fuel Transfer Based on Single-Element Transfer Cask Experience

Spent fuel transportation casks and canisterbased storage systems are generally loaded underwater in a nuclear plant's spent fuel pool/cask loading pit. Several reasons exist for exploring the feasibility of dry cask-to-cask and pool-to-cask spent fuel transfer. These include; the accommodation of plants which do not have sufficient crane capacity to handle large 90 tonne (100 ton) storage canisters or shipping casks, and construction of an MRS without the need for extensive hot cell facilities. In the case of DOE's \"Multi-Purpose Canister\" (MFC) scenario, use of such a transfer system would allow all plants with adequate transport routes to use large canisters at-reactor, and those without adequate transport routes to use the MRS for loading of large canisters without the need for hot cell facilities. The dry transfer option would not only allow the use of large canisters for all fuel, but would assist DOE in meeting MRS deadlines since licensing and construction of hot-cell facilities significantly affect schedule. This paper reviews the regulatory issues and technical design considerations for a single-element dry transfer system. Also summarized are lessons learned from the TMI-2 fuel transfer system which are directly applicable to the design, testing, startup, and use of a future dry cask-to-cask or pool-tocask transfer system.