Examination of Spent PWR Fuel Rods after 15 Years in Dry Storage

摘要

For approximately 15 years 15 x 15 PWR fuel (35.7 GWd/MTU) was stored in a dry inert-atmosphere Castor V/21 cask as peak cladding temperatures decreased from approximately 350 to 150 degrees C. Before storage, the loaded cask was subjected to extensive thermal-benchmark tests, during which time the peak temperatures were >400 deg C. The cask was opened to examine the fuel rods for degradation and to determine if hey were suitable for extended storage.