NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN RPV HEAD PACKAGING & DISPOSITION

Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) Head replacements remain in the forefront for all US commercial nuclear PWR plants. Davis-Besse was the first operating nuclear power plant to undergo an RPV Head replacement in the United States, which required disposition of the retired RPV Head for disposal. This paper presents new developments for packaging and disposition of old RPV Heads and control rod drive mechanisms (CRDM’s), as applicable. It addresses the major regulatory and design requirements associated with the packaging, transportation and disposition of old RPV Heads. The specific topics that are covered include radiological characterization methodology, shielding design, packaging design, on-site storage, transportation, and disposition.