Experience Gained From Skoda VPVR/M Casks Use For RRRFR Program

Full text: The aim of the paper is to present the Nuclear Research Institute Rez plc, Czech Republic (NRI) cask owner experience gained from the use of unique high capacity transport and storage SKODA VPVR/M cask technology. Cask is licensed for nearly all types of Russian origin research reactor fuel (package design license, transport permission). NRI is participating in the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) program incorporated in the Russian Federation - United States common activity Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) supported by IAEA. Within the scope of this project, the high enriched uranium (HEU) and low enriched uranium (LEU) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from NRI was returned back to RF Mayak facility in November 2007 using 16 of these casks (total 549 fuel assemblies and hermetic canisters with SNF, only one combined road and rail secure shipment needed in total). Now NRI is supporting the SNF shipments from further countries research reactors - cask Users (in 2008 from Hungary and Bulgaria already completed, in 2009 from Ukraine and Poland in progress, in the following years from Serbia, Byelorussia in preparation, and next coming). The NRI role and activity in the program is based on performing the transport packaging system inspections and maintenance, assuring the transportation of the empty SKODA VPVR/M casks in special ISO containers and cask handling auxiliary equipment / accessories to the user, providing instruction and recommendations for the research reactor facility modifications, foreign country research reactor staff education and training to handle with the casks, reviewing the user cask handling operational procedures, performing special technical support (cask drying and He-leak testing), supervising the SNF loading into the casks, and loaded casks mounting into special ISO containers. These activities are covered by a long term Cask Custodian Contract between the NRI and US DOE valid until the year 2014 and Service Contracts between NRI and cask Users. (authors)