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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Elise B. Fox, Scott D. Greenway, Elliot A. Clark
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 57 | Number 2 | February 2010 | Pages 103-111
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST10-A9364
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMEs) have potential interest for use for hydrogen isotope separation from water. In order for PEMEs to be fully utilized, more information is needed on the stability of Nafion when exposed to radiation. This work examines Nafion 117 under varying total dosage and dose rate and in water or air. Analytical tools, such as infrared spectroscopy, ion exchange capacity, dynamic mechanical analysis, and total inorganic carbon-total organic carbon (TIC-TOC) were used to characterize the exposed membranes. The water from saturated membranes was analyzed by fluoride and sulfate emissions and TIC-TOC, which provided important data on the stability of the membranes during radiation exposure.