Nuclear Spent Fuel Management

Given current energy projections, it is likely that interest in nuclear energy will grow, resulting in more fuel passing through the back end of the fuel cycle. To minimise the time, risk and resources associated with management of this spent nuclear fuel, it is important to minimise the amount and handling of damaged spent fuel. Arising from an IAEA meeting on this topic, this publication provides assistance in determining if fuel with a particular type of defect is acceptable or if it requires non-standard handling. The publication is intended to facilitate evaluation of the costs and benefits of design concepts or design changes for storage or transport systems, and to help in selecting appropriate methods for identifying and handling damaged spent nuclear fuel.

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.

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

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.

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.

Options for Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste for Countries Developing New Nuclear Power Programmes IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NW-T-1.24 (Rev. 1)