Experience acquired in realization of an intermediate-level spent fuel storage at Cernavoda NPP

Cernavoda NPP is provided through design with a spent fuel pool, Sf, of capacity ensuring wet storage of spent fuel elements resulting in eight and a half years of reactor operation at a average annual production of 5000 fuel elements. By the end of 2002 after a six year operation of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1, in the Sf 30,344 fuel clusters were stored. Within technical cooperation programs sponsored by IAEA Vienna, Citron conducted studies and analyses concerning an intermediate storing repository to which the spent fuel stored in Sf will be transferred. Such an intermediate storing facility would have a minimal lifetime of 50 years. The optimal site of this facility proved to be at about 700 m within the vicinity of reactor no. 5 of Cernavoda NPP. The advantages of this site selection are underlined. The paper presents the stages of construction of this project in the preparation and fuel transfer area and in the spent fuel storing area. Also mentioned are the stages of licensing process. In conclusion, underlined are the following good results: a short construction period (24 months); an important Romanian contribution; a relatively reduced basic investment; a modular solution enabling an extension of storing capacity according to the supply of spent fuel from the reactor. Also stressed are the experience acquired in technological design and preparation of safeguards documentation for licensing, land preparation of the host site, as well as in building, mounting, procurement, equipment and component fabrication. The entire activity was conducted under severe observance of the personnel, population and environment radiation protection