Nuclear Spent Fuel Management

This publication, resulting from an IAEA coordinated research project (CRP), provides information about available strategies for research reactor spent fuel management, and presents a decision methodology to assist those selecting among several options, to identify the preferred approach for their specific situation. The decision support tools were developed to consider not only the cost of the possible research reactor spent fuel management strategies, but also the non-economic factors that might influence their selection. Examples of the technologies that are currently used by some IAEA Member States are provided. Additionally, this publication provides information about the Excel based decision-support tools developed as part of this CRP, along with case studies and tutorials to assist users.

Provides a state of the art review of spent fuel data management, including what data need to be gathered for the relevant activities in spent fuel management and how to maintain them by the responsible bodies at various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.

This publication provides a global overview of the status of spent fuel and radioactive waste management programmes, inventories, current practices, technologies and trends. It presents information on national arrangements for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and on current waste and spent fuel inventories and their future estimates. Achievements, challenges and trends in the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste are also addressed. This second edition has been developed with a basis of national profiles submitted by Member States, complemented with openly available Joint Convention National Reports. The data reported are fully dependent on the input from the States and by the assumptions made to transform these data into the waste classes defined in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSG-1, Classification of Radioactive Waste

This book lays a comprehensive foundation for addressing the issue of safety in the lifecycle of nuclear waste. With the focus on the fundamental principles, the book covers key technical approaches to safety in the management of spent nuclear fuel, reprocessed high-level waste, low-level waste, and decommissioning wastes. Behaviors of nuclear waste in natural and engineered systems in relation to safety assessment are also described through the explanation of fundamental processes. For any country involved with the use of nuclear power, nuclear waste management is a topic of grave importance. Although many countries have heavily invested in nuclear waste management, having a successful national program still remains a major challenge. This book offers substantial guidance for those seeking solutions to these problems. As the problem of nuclear waste management is heavily influenced by social factors, the connection between technical and social issues in nuclear waste management is also discussed. The book is a core text for advanced students in nuclear and environmental engineering, and a valuable reference for those working in nuclear engineering and related areas.

Nuclear Nonproliferation: The Spent Fuel Problem examines the debate concerning the storage of spent fuel generated by nuclear reactors and its implications for nuclear nonproliferation efforts. Potential barriers to the establishment or expansion of national storage facilities for spent fuel are discussed, along with alternatives. This book covers a broad spectrum of possible multinational and international arrangements for spent fuel management, ranging from relatively benign international oversight of national facilities to arrangements for bilateral and regional cooperation, and even the creation of entirely new international institutional mechanisms. The technical, economic, political, and legal aspects of managing spent fuel are explored, paying particular attention to Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Indian Ocean Basin, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Public attitudes toward nuclear energy, especially with regard to the issue of radioactive waste disposal, are also considered. The final chapter looks at the political aspects of nuclear nonproliferation in general and of spent fuel management in particular. This monograph will be of interest to government officials and policymakers concerned with nuclear energy and nonproliferation.