Wet fuel storage at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant

Spent reactor fuels have been stored at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) CPP-603 basin at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) since 1951. CPP-603 was used to store aluminum-, stainless steel-, and zirconium-clad fuels for reprocessing campaigns. By 1976, CPP-603 had significantly deteriorated because basin and fuel storage requirements were not well defined or controlled. Corrective actions followed these determinations: (1) stored fuel condition; (2) facility functional capabilities; and (3) storage environment effect upon fuel. CPP-603 degradation was largely reversed by removing or canning the leaking fuel and upgrading some portions of the facility. Nonetheless, a new storage facility, CPP-666, was constructed and began operation in 1984. CPP-666 is the most modem fuel storage facility in the DOE complex. The intent of the CPP-666 facility was to provide relatively short-term fuel storage, up to 10 years, prior to fuel reprocessing. The same determinations are now being made at CPP-666 for two reasons: (1) the ICPP reprocessing mission was eliminated and fuel must be stored until a repository becomes available; and (2) CPP-603 is being phased-out and most of the fuel inventory will be transferred to CPP-666. This paper summarizes the effects of stored fuels on CPP-666 and the performancemore » of the treatment systems. The conclusions of this study provide the basis for suggested restorations to facility operation and equipment.« less