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Research Highlight

ORNL staff completed evaluation of incorporating standardized canisters into integrated waste management system

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Order of magnitude cost of different scenarios broken down by system functions
  • Standardization is a potential option for better integration between storage, transportation, and eventual disposal
    • BRC, NEAC, NWTRB support effort
  • Third evaluation on topic over the last three fiscal years
    • Analyzed an additional 10 scenarios related to implementation alternatives for standardization
    • Incorporated new cost estimates based on multi-lab effort on a packaging facility
  • Major conclusions (for scenarios analyzed in this report):
    • Shifting to loading of standardized canisters before or when a repository concept was selected reduced the total cost of the system by between 2% and 8% compared to continuing to load large dual purpose canisters 
    • Transportation costs are less than 6% of the total system costs