Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel from Research Reactors at the Kurchatov Institute

Abstract

The problems of managing spent nuclear fuel stored in at-reactor repositories at the NRC Kurchatov Institute and current methods of inventorying the nuclear content of the repositories are discussed. Methods of identifying FA and leak-tight bottles with fuel rods by means of radiometric methods of measuring the radiation parameters of АF are discussed. The use of remote-controlled machines makes it possible to reduce the effect of high radiation fields on the workers and protect them in their work. The main problems arising during long-term storage of spent fuel are degradation of the protective barriers of the fuel rods and the lack of information on the radioactive content and the produced high-level wastes. Regular inventorying of the repositories ensures that the missing data are replaced, and in preparation for shipment attention is focused on restoring the outer casings of the packages for shipment to reprocessing facilities.