NEUTRON ABSORBER CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE DOE STANDARDIZED CANISTER

摘要

The DOE Standardized SNF Canister will allowa broad range of DOE-managed fuels to be loaded,stored, transported, and disposed of while avoidingthe need to re-open canisters after being sealed. Akey safety function of the DOE Standardized SNFCanister is to ensure the material maintains asubcritical configuration for storage, transportation,and disposal.Researchers designed a basket made of amaterial which should ensure subcriticality (e.g. bygeometry control and inclusion of neutron absorber)and be structurally sound. The basket materialshould resist the corrosive effects of a 10,000 yearperiod in a breached container and still provideadequate neutronic isolation or degrade in a formwhich prevents a critical configuration of fissilematerial.This report summarizes the materials evaluatedto ensure subcriticality of the DOE Standardized SNFCanister for credible disposal scenarios.Recommendations for future work include performingcriticality evaluations using borated stainless steelfor the basket material in the DOE Standardized SNFCanister and determining the solubility on boron’scorrosion products. If researchers determine theproperties of borated stainless steel are insufficient,ANA needs to undergo more corrosion testing andcontinue the process to become an ASME code casefor welded construction.