Year
1982
Abstract
The storage of spent fuel and high level waste in high capacity spent fuel storage casks is described including on-site handling, transfer and storage operations. The influence of such spent fuel characteristics as enrichment, burnup and postirradiation time on dry storage cask operating characteristics is also described. The fuel assembly decay heat, peak cladding temperature, criticality, and surface dose rates are presented as a function of the spent fuel characteristics. A transportation system is also described which allows the dry storage cask to be transported off-site by rail, barge or heavy haul truck by employing reusable impact limiters. The dry storage cask transportation system described has been designed to meet all 10CFR 71 licensing requirements. The status of dry storage cask licensing, manufacture and demonstration is also reviewed as well as the benefits and limitations of dry storage casks as compared with conventional spent fuel storage methods.