Economics of at-reactor spent fuel storage alternatives

Estimates of costs that would be incurred by a utility providing enhanced storage capability for spent LWR fuel are presented. The cost data are arranged to assist in estimating and evaluating costs for specific storage situations. Estimated storage costs are provided in a series of tables providing cost factors or arrays for each alternative method of storage considered, and the additional costs involved in various options of pre-storage preparation of the fuel. Cost data are provided for (1) storage enhancement within an existing storage pool, by reracking and/or consolidation of fuel; (2) construction and use of an additional, separate water basin for storage; and (3) utilization of dry storage options. Costs are given for canning of integral assemblies and for consolidation and canning of fuel. In each case, the storage facilities are assumed to be located at an existing reactor site. If a separate site were to be utilized for storage, appropriate site development and maintenance costs would need to be added. The basic cost tables are tied togeter by a decision tree logic diagram designed to simulate the decision steps a utility planner might take in selecting from alternative storage technologies to best meet the requirements of his situation. Using the decision tree and its associated tables, example calculations were made to show the life cycle storage costs for a hypothetical case assuming a pressurized water reactor (PWR) site. The reactor was assumed to discharge 40 assemblies (18.4 MTU) of spent fuel each year; costs were estimated for storage periods of 1, 5, and 15 yrs, respectively. Discounted life cycle storage costs in thousands of dollars and unit costs in dollars per kilogram of initial uranium content are shown for this hypothetical site. Cost for spent fuel storage are dependent upon conditions at each reactor site and the most economical method is not expected to be the same at all sites