Power & Operations

NUREG published on high-burnup spent fuel storage and transportation

November 25, 2020, 9:36AMNuclear News

A final report on the dry storage and transportation of high-burnup spent nuclear fuel (NUREG-2224) has been issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. NUREG-2224 provides a technical basis in support of the NRC’s guidance on adequate fuel conditions as it pertains to hydride reorientation in the cladding of high-burnup spent fuel (over 45 gigawatt-day per metric ton uranium).

NUREG-2224, “Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel,” was made publicly available on November 23 on the NRC’s ADAMS website with Accession No. ML20191A321.

Sponsored results: Hydride reorientation is a process in which the orientation of hydrides precipitated in high-burnup fuel cladding during reactor operation changes from the circumferential-axial to the radial-axial direction. Because testing has shown that hydride reorientation can occur at temperatures and stresses lower than previously assumed, the NRC has since sponsored additional research to better understand whether the phenomenon could affect the mechanical behavior of spent fuel cladding and compromise the fuel when placed in dry storage and transportation containers. NUREG-2224 provides an engineering assessment of the results of that research.

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nrcnureg-2224snfspent nuclear fuelwaste management
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