Update on Use of AECL's MACSTOR Module at CANDU 6 Stations

Abstract

AECL has contributed to the technology development and implementation of dry spent fuel management facilities in Canada and internationally over the last three decades. During that period, AECL has designed a number of concrete canister models and the MACSTOR® module; a medium size air-cooled vault. AECL's dry storage technology was used in Canada, Korea and Romania for the construction of eight large-scale above ground dry storage facilities for CANDU® spent fuel. These projects add up to a constructed capacity in excess of 5,000 MgU, that represents a significant share of the total worldwide dry storage capacity. This paper describes basic research and technology developments made at AECL's facilities to develop those dry storage technologies for its own reactors and for the operating CANDU 6 reactors. The current operating status of the facilities using concrete canisters is provided. A description of the MACSTOR 200 modules each having a capacity of 228 MgU that is in use at the Gentilly 2 and Cernavoda stations is provided. The Cernavoda spent fuel management facility was commissioned in 2003. The organisational, licensing, equipment supply and construction aspects that were necessary to deliver this turnkey project by AECL and its Romanian partners in 25 months are described. The paper also provides an outline of the joint program between AECL and KHNP-NETEC to develop the new MACSTOR/KN-400 and provides a description of this module having a capacity of 456 MgU (thus twice the MACSTOR 200 capacity) to be deployed by 2007 at the Wolsong site in Korea.