ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the fission process, nuclear fuel assemblies, and refueling cycle; spent fuel storage requirements and storage options; dry cask storage of spent fuel at reactors; legislative and regulatory requirements, and economic evaluation of spent fuel management systems. The fuel transfer canal is connected to the refueling canal by the fuel transfer tube, and the new fuel assemblies are transferred from the new fuel storage facility to the fuel transfer canal by the fuel handling machine. The suction for the cleanup system is taken through six surface skimmers in the spent fuel pool, one in the refueling canal, and five in the refueling pool. The maintenance of reserve capacity to accommodate the full reactor core in the spent fuel storage pool at a nuclear plant is not a safety matter. Fuel consolidation in conjunction with maximum use of high-density racks allows a pool storage density of up to 1.04 metric tons of uranium (MTU) per square foot for pressurized-water reactor fuel and up to 1.25 MTU per square foot for boiling water reactor fuel.
