Characteristics of Spent Fuel and Its Storage and Transportation

Abstract

As the most significant type of nuclear waste in terms of risk to humans, the irradiated nuclear fuels discharged from nuclear reactor demand utmost care in their handling. This chapter describes the composition, radionuclide inventory, decay heat, and radiation dose of spent fuel as a function of burnup and cooling time to provide the basis of its safe handling. Radiation shielding, cooling, and criticality control during storage and transportation of spent fuel are also described.