GOVERNMENT/INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OF A SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL DRY TRANSFER SYSTEM

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is currently engaged in a cooperative program with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to develop a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensable spent nuclear fuel dry transfer system (DTS). The system will enable the transfer of individual spent nuclear fuel assemblies between a conventional top loading cask and multipurpose canister in a shielded overpack, or accommodate spent nuclear fuel transfers between two conventional casks. The DTS has several significant applications and could benefit the DOE and commercial nuclear facility operators in a number of ways. For example, it has the potential to permit shutdown nuclear reactor sites to decommission pools as well as support existing and future DOE spent nuclear fuel management activities. EPRI contracted with Transnuclear, Inc., Hawthorne, New York, to design the dry transfer system and prepare a topical safety analysis report. The Dry Transfer System for Spent Fuel: Project Report was completed in December 1995 and delivered to the DOE. The Dry Transfer System Topical Safety Analysis Report was completed and delivered in August 1996. The DOE submitted the topical safety analysis report to the NRC in September 1996 for review and approval. Approval of the topical report by the NRC could expedite future site-specific licensing and use of the DTS. In addition, a project was initiated in June 1996 to demonstrate a prototype of the dry transfer system at the DOE Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Key features of the DTS and the status of regulatory and prototype demonstration activities will be presented.