The new technology of interim storage of failed spent fuel from the BN-350 fast reactor

At present, intact spent fuel of the BN-350 reactor is stored in baskets of an open type. For storage of damaged and failed spent fuel, a cylindrical canister type T-1 made of austenitic stainless steel is used. The encapsulating procedure into such canisters is carried out in the water pool after discharge of such a fuel assembly from the reactor. The storage of such assemblies takes place with water inside the canister, which is separated from water of the pool by a hermetic lid. The transition to the 'dry-wet' storage of failed spent fuel of the BN-350 fast reactor is considered an actual technical task. This paper describes possible practicable approaches for solving spent fuel storage problems taking into account utilization of existing standard and experimental equipment of the hot cell and water pool of the BN-350 reactor. (author)