Development of MONJU spent fuel cask for post irradiation examination

A cask, type B(M), for transporting fuel irradiated in the prototype FBR 'Monju' to the PIE facility is being developed by Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC). The PIE facility will be constructed at PNC's O-arai Engineering Center (OEC) and the fuel will be transported by sea. Three fuel assemblies canned with water or one fuel assembly encapsulated in a specially designed inner container with helium gas can be contained in the cask. For the multiple use of the cask, it is considered that the cask can also accomodate the ATR 'Fugen' and demonstration fuel. The following remain to be done; (1) handling test of an inner container (2) demonstration tests with scale models under normal and accidental conditions (3) preparation for design approval (4) fabrication The cask is scheduled to be used in 1994. (author)