Business/R&D

Technology for Earth, Energy for Human

Spent Fuel Management

Spent Fuel Management picture

KEPCO E&C provides various technical services related to the storage of high-level radioactive waste, such as changing the existing nuclear fuel storage rack to high density storage rack or reracking in the empty space, spent fuel dry storage, and spent fuel dry transfer in response to the spent fuel saturation inside the operating nuclear power plants.

Spent fuel is a nuclear fuel material after being used as a nuclear fuel at the nuclear power plants, and has a high radioactivity. Plus, even after the operation of reactor is finished, it continuously emits heat, so humans cannot come into direct contact when handling or storing. The shielding structure to block the radiation should be installed externally.
Spent fuel management method includes direct disposal, reprocessing, and interim storage.

  • Direct disposal : isolated storage at the rock formation 500–1000m underground for the long-term stability
  • Reprocessing : it refers to the separation & extraction process of the useful materials such as plutonium from the spent fuel, and during the extraction process most of high-level radioactive waste contained in the spent fuel is extracted.
  • Interim storage : store at a site for certain amount of time before direct disposal or reprocessing

Adopting the spent fuel management method is decided considering domestic factors such as energy policy, economic standards, environment policy, and public acceptance, and international political factors such as nuclear non-proliferation. Korea has established High-level Radioactive Waste Management Basic Plan, and will select site in 2028, and construct interim storage facilities in 2035 and permanent disposal facilities in 2053. Accordingly, KEPCO E&C will play the role as the technological center so that Korean High-level Radioactive Waste Management Basic Plan will proceed smoothly in stages

Major Projects

Major Projects List
Name of Services Service Period Customer

Conceptual design services on interim storage facilities for spent fuel

Apr.1990–Apr.1991

KIER

Construction design of dry storages for spent nuclear fuel of Wolsong Unit 1

Sep.1990–Sep.1991

KEPCO

Seismic analysis services for spent fuel temporary storage of Wolsong Unit 1

Oct.1991–Feb.1992

KEPCO

New construction design services for solid waste storage of Kori Units 3 & 4

Mar.1994–Jul.1994

Environment Management Center

Comparison evaluation services on spent fuel interim storage methods (dry & wet type)

Mar.1994–Jul.1994

Environment Management Center

Design services for spent fuel storage capacity expansion of Kori Unit 4, and Yonggwang Units 1 & 2

May 1994–Apr.1997

KEPCO

Expansion construction design for spent fuel dry storage facilities of Wolsong Unit 1

Jun.1996–Oct.1996

KEPCO

Overall replacement design services for spent fuel high density storage racks of Kori Unit 3

Jan.1999–Dec.2001

KEPCO

Expansion services for spent fuel storage racks of Ulchin Unit 1

Jun.1993–Apr.1995

KEPCO

Development services for optimal system of radioactive waste and spent fuel safety management integrated information system

Oct.2000–Mar.2001

KINS

Design services for increase construction of secondary spent fuel canister (phase 2)

Mar.2001–Jul.2002

KEPCO

Installation design services for spent fuel dry storage transfer facilities of Wolsong Units 2–4

Oct.2001–Oct.2004

KHNP

Development services for optimal system of radioactive waste and spent fuel safety management integrated information system (phase II)

Dec.2001–May 2002

KINS

Replacement design services for high density storage racks of spent fuel of Hanul Unit 2

Jan.2002–Jul.2004

KHNP

Replacement installation design services for high density storage racks of spent fuel of Kori Unit 4 and Hanbit Unit 1

Jun.2003–Feb.2007

KHNP

Environmental impact assessment services for radiation of dry storage facilities for spent fuel of Wolsong Units

Dec.2003–Apr.2004

KHNP

Replacement installation design services for high density storage racks of spent fuel of Hanbit Units 3 & 4

Mar.2004–Dec.2006

KHNP

Construction site investigation services for high density dry storage facilities of spent fuel of Wolsong Units.

Mar.2004–Oct.2004

KHNP

Storing capacity expansion design services for spent fuel wet storage of Wolsong Units

Aug.2005–Feb.2007

KHNP

Replacement design services for high density storage racks of spent fuel of Hanul Units 3 & 4

Oct.2005–Dec.2008

KHNP

Technology development services for criticality and radiation analysis of spent fuel dry storage facilities

Dec.2005–Nov.2008

KHNP

Research services for the development of optimal system of comprehensive management DB system of spent fuel

Sep.2006–Aug.2009

Future & Challenge Technology Co., Ltd.

Design services for improvement in spent fuel storage cooling system of Kori Unit 1

Nov.2006–Dec.2017

KHNP

Detailed design services for dry high density storage facilities of spent fuel

Jun.2007–Nov.2007

Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC)

Research services for basic policies of spent fuel management methods

Dec.2007–Jul.2008

KHNP

Thermal hydraulic analysis services for spent fuel wet storage of Wolsong

Feb.2008–Jun.2008

KHNP

Performance improvement design services for spent fuel dry transportation facilities of Wolsong Unit 1

Apr.2009–Dec.2011

KHNP

Cooling system analysis services for spent fuel wet storage of Wolsong Units 2–4

Aug.2009–Nov.2009

KHNP

Design services for improving the cooling capacity of spent fuel storage heat exchanger

Oct.2010–Feb.2018

KHNP

Design services for securing spent fuel storage and alternative water source for firefighting system

Apr.2013–Dec.2016

KHNP

Project cost calculation services to calculate spent fuel management charges of 2012

Nov.2011–Jun.2015

KORAD

Design services for applying safety grade for spent fuel storage measuring instrument

May 2012–Dec.2012

KORAD

Design services for applying safety grade for spent fuel storage measuring instrument

Apr.2013–Dec.2016

KHNP

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services for the radiation in spent fuel storage facilities

Feb.2014–Dec.2015

KHNP

Preliminary feasibility survey services for spent fuel storage facilities of light water reactor (LWR)

Apr.2016–Dec.2016

KHNP