Spent Nuclear Fuel Receipt Rate Analysis Within an Integrated Waste Management System Architecture that Includes Consolidated Storage

Abstract

A key parameter in analyzing the performance of an integrated waste management system (IWMS) architecture for the disposition of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is the SNF receipt rate from reactor and other custodian sites. Receipt rate in this paper means how much SNF is accepted per year for transport in the IWMS from such sites. Introducing one or more federal consolidated storage facilities (CSFs) into the IWMS architecture can potentially accelerate the receipt rate profile over time relative to system architectures without a CSF. This raises the question of what an optimal SNF receipt rate profile for an IWMS architecture might be in view of practical constraints and desired system performance attributes and associated metrics. This paper describes a sensitivity study on SNF receipt rates and the associated results for a selected set of IWMS scenarios aimed at informing near-term planning for storage capabilities and transportation assets. Two different strategies for CSF operation while awaiting availability of a disposal system to receive SNF are compared: one that relatively quickly fills an initial CSF and then idles the transportation system; and another that aims for more continuous use of transportation assets and receipt capabilities at the CSF. This study examines cost considerations and other factors, such as the timing of clearing reactor sites of SNF, efficient use of capital assets, and some other metrics that might be important to a CSF host community. Based on the analysis, an initial approach is presented that targets a continuous receipt strategy while maintaining the flexibility to step up receipt capabilities to a reasonable degree when needed and beneficial, within overall system constraints.