CONSIDERATIONS FOR DESIGNING A SPENT-FUEL SHIPPING SYSTEM FOR COMMERCIAL LMFBR PLANTS

This paper identifies many factors which influence the design of a spent-fuel shipping system for commercial Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors (LMFBR's). Appropriate consideration of these factors will result in a cost effective shipping system that maximizes safety and reliability and minimizes shipping time and radiation exposure to personnel. Existing spent-fuel shipping equipment is not appropriate for servicing future commercial LMFBR's. This is due primarily to two present-day conditions: first, without reprocessing and recycle in the US, there are presently no economic incentives for rapid low-cost spent-fuel shipping; and second, the early LWR's and LMFBR's were designed, and many built, without a spent-fuel shipping system design. LMFBR facilities can be decontamination of the cask's exterior surfaces and the from its railroad transporter for loading and the contamination of the cask's exterior surfaces and the subsequent cleaning. Loading of the shipping cask can be accomplished remotely, which eliminates almost all personnel exposure to radiation. Shipping spent-fuel in sodium eliminates a sodium cleaning operation at the reactor, saves time in preparing spent-fuel for shipment and reduces the accumulation of radioactive liquid waste at the reactor. A cask and canister design that provides double containment of spent-fuel during transit enhances safety and satisfies regulatory requirements. Sealed sodium-filled canisters for individual fuel assemblies provide primary containment. The sealed shipping cask closure provides secondary containment and heat dissipation. Criteria for minimizing fuel inventory casts require that spent-fuel shipping be integrated into the overall refueling and fuel recycle schedules. Cost savings are obtained by rapid cask turnaround and shipping fuel and radial blanket assemblies together in the same cask.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • From 6th International Symposium on Packaging and Transporting radioactive material, Berlin, West Germany, 10 November 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  General Electric

  Marine Turbine & Gear Engineer, 1100 Western Ave
  Lynn, MA  United States  01910
• Authors:
  • Davis, C R
• Publication Date: 1980-7-31

Media Info

• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containers; Logistics; Radioactive materials; Scheduling
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330176
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
• Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-801115-1 Thesis
• Contract Numbers: AT03-76SF70030
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 12 1981 12:00AM