DOE selects two companies to demo automated SFN canister monitoring tech

Two companies specializing in ultrasonic nondestructive testing and structural health monitoring are to advance to the final phase of a selection process to demonstrate acoustic emission technologies for the automated monitoring of spent nuclear fuel dry storage canisters.

Guidedwave and Sensible Photonics, both based in Pennsylvania, were selected by the Department of Energy's Center for Used Fuel Research to advance to the next round of demonstration testing, which the center will conduct this summer at Idaho National Laboratory.

Established by the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy early this year, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL is designed to be a national and international hub for applied research focused on spent nuclear fuel performance, canister aging, and the fostering of innovation and collaboration.

The need: According to INL, the selections address a critical industry need related to spent fuel storage. Nuclear utilities are required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under 10 CFR Part 72 to maintain aging management programs for all spent fuel storage systems. Current inspections at on-site independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSIs) are performed periodically and require using specialized equipment for each inspection cycle.

"Automated and continuous monitoring and inspection approaches could streamline aging management activities and reduce operational burdens for used nuclear fuel management," INL said in a June 2 announcement.

Next steps: Results from this summer's testing at INL will inform the final selection of a technology for a full-scale demonstration, which may be conducted at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in Southern California, scheduled for early 2027.

The demonstration at SONGS would use a Holtec International UMAX dry storage test canister that does not contain spent fuel but is equipped with electric heaters to simulate relevant heat loads and environmental conditions.

According to INL, the demonstration is a proof of concept for potential deployment of automated monitoring and inspection technologies for aging management of all spent fuel canisters at ISFSIs at more than 74 operating and shutdown commercial nuclear power plants nationwide, and at a future DOE federal spent fuel staging facility.

The selection process: Guidedwave and Sensible Photonics were selected to advance to predemonstration testing by a panel of experts from the DOE complex and industry following a review of key performance metrics, INL said. The two companies were chosen from a field drawn from former Small Business Innovation Research and Nuclear Energy University Program award winners invited to participate in the selection process.