Development of a Type B PWR Fresh Fuel Package

A Type B fresh fuel package has been developed to ship two PWR fuel assemblies. The package maximizes the number of fuel assemblies that can be transported by truck (by road weight limits) while providing protection for both the fuel and the neutron moderator during regulatory postulated drop and thermal events and meets the 1996 IAEA regulations as adopted by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The package uses a combination of energy absorbing material and an internal fuel restraint system to ensure that the fuel remains intact during these postulated events. Criticality control was enhanced by use of a higher temperature resistant hydrogenated material that allowed the package weight to be minimized. Full scale drop and burn tests were performed to demonstrate regulatory requirements. Additionally, the package is designed to minimize normal transport and handling loads being transmitted to the fuel without the use of a separate shock isolation system. Road and handling tests were performed to demonstrate that vibration and shock loads from transport did not compromise the fuel. The package has an adjustable fuel cavity to allow a variety of fuel assembly designs to be shipped, including variations in bundle length, width, spacer grid locations, and upper and lower end fitting configurations. As mentioned previously, the package is designed as a Type B packaging and will be used to transport assemblies containing Blended Low Enriched Uranium (BLEU).