SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AT THE UTILITY SITE

A key challenge facing many utilities that own nuclear power plants is the need for timely increases in the capacity of their on-site systems for storage of spent fuel. General Electric Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority are working together in a joint program to identify spent fuel management options and design, develop and test prototype systems for potential application to the four sites within the TVA complex. Three of the principal options available to the utility are discussed in this paper: 1) expanded pool storage systems, 2) new modular storage systems, and 3) consolidation of the spent fuel for either pool or modular storage systems. Comments on each are provided based on operational experience at GE in the storage and transportation of spent fuel and preliminary results from the joint TVA/GE studies.