Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-r5zm4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-15T17:08:08.810Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Used Fuel Disposition Campaign – Objectives, Mission, Plans and Current Activities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2012

Kevin McMahon
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185 USA
Peter Swift
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185 USA
Ken Sorenson
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185 USA
Mark Nutt
Affiliation:
Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439 USA
Mark Peters
Affiliation:
Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439 USA
Get access

Abstract

The safe management and disposition of used nuclear fuel and/or high level nuclear waste is a fundamental aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle. The United States currently utilizes a once-through fuel cycle where used nuclear fuel is stored on-site in either wet pools or in dry storage systems with ultimate disposal in a deep mined geologic repository envisioned. However, a decision not to use the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository will result in longer interim storage at reactor sites than previously planned. In addition, alternatives to the once-through fuel cycle are being considered and a variety of options are being explored under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cycle Technologies Program.

These two factors lead to the need to develop a credible strategy for managing radioactive wastes from any future nuclear fuel cycle in order to provide acceptable disposition pathways for all wastes regardless of transmutation system technology, fuel reprocessing scheme(s), and/or the selected fuel cycle. These disposition paths will involve both the storing of radioactive material for some period of time and the ultimate disposal of radioactive waste.

To address the challenges associated with waste management, the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy established the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign in the summer of 2009. The mission of the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign is to identify alternatives and conduct scientific research and technology development to enable storage, transportation, and disposal of used nuclear fuel and wastes generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles. The near-and long-term objectives of the Fuel Cycle Technologies Program and its’ Used Fuel Disposition Campaign are presented.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cycle Research and development Program, Used Fuel Disposition, Campaign Implementation Plan, March 2010.Google Scholar
2. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap, Report to Congress, April 2010.Google Scholar
3. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cycle Technologies, Program Management Plan, July 2010.Google Scholar