Friday, April 1, 2016

Links and fuel technology,much of it absurd



Links and fuel technology,much of it absurd

http://www.mtexpress.com/search/?t=article&nsa=eedition&q=Leyse

EPRI had already started examining longer-term storage safety in 2009 when it established the Extended Storage Collaboration Program with industry and government experts. “The program has grown to more than 400 members from 16 countries, all seeking to answer the same question: What needs to be done to ensure the safe, extended storage of spent fuel?” said EPRI Senior Technical Leader Keith Waldrop.
A Related Issue: Evaluating High-Burnup Fuel Storage
Over time, the nuclear industry has increased its fuel burnup to improve reactor economics. According to the NRC, the average fuel discharged from reactors today has reached the high-burnup threshold, and more of this fuel is being stored in casks. Based on laboratory research, NRC is concerned that high-burnup fuel in dry storage may have a greater potential for cracking in the zirconium alloy rod that contains the uranium fuel.
EPRI has been investigating how to store high-burnup fuel safely since the 1990s. In 2002, NRC accepted EPRI-developed technical criteria to license cask storage of high-burnup fuel for 20 years. “Many casks with high-burnup fuel are approaching 20 years now,” Machiels said. “Researchers have to confirm that the existing criteria will ensure safe storage over extended periods.”
EPRI and DOE have launched a demonstration project to confirm the behavior of high-burnup fuel during extended storage. EPRI researchers are modifying a commercial storage cask with monitoring equipment, which Waldrop called the project’s “biggest challenge.” By 2017, the cask will be loaded with several types of high-burnup fuel at Dominion’s North Anna Power Station, and key parameters including temperature will be monitored for 10 years at the plant’s cask storage facility. Rods from the cask will be tested and the results compared to those from tests prior to storage to identify any changes. “The results will enhance the technical basis for longer-term storage of high-burnup fuel,” said Waldrop.

“We know that as spent fuel cools, temperature and radiation decrease; therefore, the potential for fuel degradation is reduced as well,” said Machiels. “There will be a time when conditions are mild enough that any degradation is unlikely. We are focused on aging management to make sure that the systems protecting the spent fuel will perform properly over all the time they’re needed.” 


Email to EPRI:
Subject: Request for details
Date: 4/1/2016 10:34:29 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time
From: Send IM to: BobleyseBobleyse@aol.com

Expert:
It is disclosed,
EPRI and DOE have launched a demonstration project to confirm the behavior of high-burnup fuel during extended storage. EPRI researchers are modifying a commercial storage cask with monitoring equipment, which Waldrop called the project’s “biggest challenge.” By 2017, the cask will be loaded with several types of high-burnup fuel at Dominion’s North Anna Power Station, and key parameters including temperature will be monitored for 10 years at the plant’s cask storage facility. Rods from the cask will be tested and the results compared to those from tests prior to storage to identify any changes. “The results will enhance the technical basis for longer-term storage of high-burnup fuel,” said Waldrop.
The above paragraph states, "By 2017, the cask will be loaded with several types of high-burnup fuel ..."  I believe that since those tasks are to be completed during the next nine months, there is currently a lot of documentation that details the activities.  I want access to that documentation.  How do I get that? 
The above reference is written by a professional journalist.  It is not her job to understand the technology.  That is apparently the reason that EPRI provides access to techexpert.
Robert H. Leyse
PO Box 2850
Sun Valley, ID
(208) 622-7740

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