Transportation of spent nuclear fuel from reactor sites in the US - What will it take?

Elena A. Kalinina, Ingrid K. Busch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The Department of Energy (DOE) is laying the groundwork for implementing the Administration's Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste, which calls for a consent-based siting process. Potential destinations for an interim storage facility or repository have yet to be identified. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how planning for future transportation of spent nuclear fuel as part of a waste management system may be affected by different choices and strategies. The transportation system is modeled using TOM (Transportation Operations Model), a computer code developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The simulations include scenarios with and without an interim storage facility (ISF) and employing different at-reactor management practices. Various operational start times for the ISF and repository were also considered. The results of the cost analysis provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) capital, operational, and maintenance costs of the transportation system and the corresponding spending profiles as well as information regarding the size of the transportation fleet, distance traveled (consist and cask miles), and fuel age and burnup during the transportation. This study provides useful insights regarding the role of the transportation as an integral part of the waste management system.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015, IHLRWM 2015
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages62-70
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781510808102
StatePublished - 2015
Event15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, IHLRWM 2015 - Charleston, United States
Duration: Apr 12 2015Apr 16 2015

Publication series

Name15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference 2015, IHLRWM 2015

Conference

Conference15th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, IHLRWM 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCharleston
Period04/12/1504/16/15

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