Transportation Cask for Bare High Burnup Used Nuclear Fuel - 16362
A conceptual design for a reusable transportation cask (the 6625B-HB) capable of transporting boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) used nuclear fuel (UNF) assemblies, including high burnup UNF, was produced for the Department of Energy (DOE) by AREVA. This cask could be configured to ship these assemblies either as bare fuel or fuel loaded into single-assembly damaged fuel cans (DFCs). The 6625B-HB cask has been designed with reasonable assurance it can be certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under 10 CFR Part 71 based on AREVA TN's experience with the MP197HB (a transportation cask designed to ship high burnup UNF in a dry storage canister), fabricated within existing facilities, used by most utilities, and transported by rail. The level of detail developed for the 6625B-HB is intended to support analyses and planning activities that DOE is performing in laying the groundwork for an integrated waste management system, which includes preparing for future large-scale transport of UNF to consolidated interim storage or disposal facilities. The details of the conceptual design include cask characteristics (e.g., capacity, dimensions, and masses), characteristics of the UNF that could be shipped in this cask system concept, estimates of costs to fabricate this cask system, an assessment of operational activity durations and associated cumulative doses for loading and unloading this cask system, and identification of potential limitations or anticipated licensing considerations of relevance for this cask system. This design concept for a reusable transportation cask would enhance the high-burnup fuel assembly carrying capacity as compared to other NRC-certified transportation casks and, unlike welded canister systems, could be used for shipment of bare UNF assemblies taken directly from reactor spent fuel pools (SFPs). (authors)