NUCLEAR | SECTOR REPORT


Q A digital rendering of Orano’s NUHOMS MATRIX dry storage array, currently under construction. Orano expects the MATRIX to begin storing used nuclear fuel in summer 2021.


Seals says the storage system’s


“Cost is a driving factor, especially when decommissioning a shut-down reactor site,” Roberts says. “When you have a larger canister and shielded cask, not only can you put more nuclear material inside, but you also take fewer trips. There’s also a lot of extra effort going into repurposing the cranes at these shut-down reactors and ensuring they can do what they need to do for this new end-of-lifecycle purpose.” Roberts’ colleague James Seals, vice


president of field services at Orano’s nuclear logistics subsidiary Orano TN in Columbia, Maryland, USA, says that as used fuel canisters and casks have increased in capacity, utilities have continued to invest into lifting equipment upgrades or replacements to keep up with lifting capacity requirements for used nuclear fuel. Many older models of hoist are only designed to lift about 100 US tons (90 metric tonnes), Seals says, while the used fuel canisters inside the transfer casks have increased in weight to between 115 and 125 US tons (104 to 113 metric tonnes) when loaded. Orano’s NUHOMS dry storage systems


for used nuclear fuel canisters are also changing, which is creating a need for hoists that can reach larger heights. As of going to press, Orano TN is currently working on the first array of the two-tiered NUHOMS MATRIX storage system and associated hoist. Orano broke ground on the array in late summer of 2020 and expects the first canisters to be loaded into the storage modules in July or August 2021. The NUHOMS MATRIX is a two-storey


horizontal storage system made of concrete and steel that is designed to safely increase storage density at nuclear reactors’ onsite used fuel storage facilities. The 28-foot-high (8.5-metre-high) concrete array stores used fuel canisters up to 16 feet (4.88 metres) in length and approximately 75 inches (1.91 metres) in diameter.


28 | March 2021 | www.hoistmagazine.com


height required the development of a safe lifting mechanism that could exert lateral force without destabilizing itself. Orano accomplished this by developing an improved rail system as well as a gantry system. Four lift towers can be synchronized to rise in parallel or can be adjusted individually as needed in order to level the load. Rails and a skid enable horizontal movement of the canisters into the concrete storage module. “There’s a means of attaching the lift


crane to the face of the module to add lateral stabilization to it,” Seals says. “This allows personnel to minimize dose while the cask is loaded with used nuclear fuel. For lift tower height, consideration must be given to the arms coming down to engage the transfer skid, so the operational height when fully raised is about 40 feet.” The system’s control center, consisting


of both controls and video feeds, can be located separate from the loading module, with cables run from the control center to the hoist. Seals says that while new large-scale


nuclear sites in the United States likely won’t be built until after the completion


of nuclear energy units Vogtle Three and Vogtle Four in Waynesboro, Georgia, USA in 2023, research and development projects in advanced and small modular reactors continue. Orano is currently involved in the development of a consolidated interim storage facility for used nuclear fuel. This facility would consolidate fuel being stored at over 70 shut down, decommissioned, and operational nuclear facilities across the United States. The nuclear sector is a promising and challenging market. Nuclear trends tend to be country-specific, with some countries like China focused on building new plants, others like Canada prioritizing maintenance of existing installations, and regions like France making a push to decommission nuclear reactors. In markets where nuclear power plants are being shuttered, the required decommissioning work is creating demand for hoists; indeed, even decommissioned nuclear facilities must still be maintained as a matter of public safety. The applications of nuclear technology also extend beyond power generation to consumer goods, medicine, military projects, and space exploration. While some companies expect the nuclear sector to hold steady, others are predicting growth and opportunity as pent-up demand for delayed upgrades is unleashed. Companies that are willing to make long- term investments will likely find the nuclear industry an enticing challenge. ●


R A digital rendering of Orano’s lift transfer trailer for loading used nuclear fuel canisters into the NUHOMS MATRIX


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53