Loading optimization for Swiss used nuclear fuel assemblies into final disposal canisters

•Optimization of canister loading in Switzerland.•Emphasize on the need for a precise fuel accounting.•Influence of the decay heat evolution over time. In this study, an optimization of the canister loading for used nuclear fuels is performed, solely based on their decay heat values. By taking into...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear engineering and design 2020-12, Vol.370, p.110897, Article 110897
Main Authors: Solans, V., Rochman, D., Ferroukhi, H., Vasiliev, A., Pautz, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assemblies
Canister
Cask
Fuels
Irradiation
Nuclear fuels
Optimization
Plutonium
Radiation
Spent nuclear fuels
Used nuclear fuel
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Summary:•Optimization of canister loading in Switzerland.•Emphasize on the need for a precise fuel accounting.•Influence of the decay heat evolution over time. In this study, an optimization of the canister loading for used nuclear fuels is performed, solely based on their decay heat values. By taking into account the individual irradiation history for each fuel assembly, as well as with a number of assumptions on the number of used fuels to be disposed, this study indicates that a canister filling fraction of 94% is achievable for both PWR and BWR fuel, thus lowering the number of required canisters compared to a previous study. This work emphasized the need for a precise fuel accounting, including the reprocessed ones, as well as considering the individual irradiation history for all fuel assemblies. Finally, it is demonstrated that a higher filling fraction can be reached by delaying the transfer of used nuclear fuels from storage casks to disposal canisters.
ISSN:0029-5493
1872-759X
DOI:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110897