Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 10, Eletronuclear has started a four-month program to transfer used fuel from unit 1 of the Angra nuclear power plant in Brazil to the Complementary Dry Storage Unit. This operation will extend the service life of the plant’s cooling pools by 20 years.

The dry storage facility, authorized for initial operation in 2021, was built to house up to 72 Holtec Hi-Storm FW dry storage casks and is licensed to receive fuel until 2045. In April, Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission granted the facility an extendable 40-year operating license.

Unit 2 of the Angra plant has already transferred used fuel to dry storage. By September last year, 480 used fuel elements had been moved using 15 Hi-Storm containers. For unit 1, coordinator Júlio César dos Santos emphasized the importance of the current effort: “With this action, used fuels will be transferred to steel and concrete hulls, increasing the useful life of the Angra 1 pool by 20 years.”

Eletronuclear detailed the process: “Earlier this week, the first Multi-Purpose Canister, containing 37 fuel elements, was loaded, followed by the welding of the canister lid - the metal casing that will later be stored in the concrete and steel hull known as Hi-Storm. The operation also involves water drainage and internal drying, ensuring complete safety for storage.”

By the end of this campaign, 48 Hi-Storm casks are expected to be in place at unit 1, against the site’s total capacity of 72 modules.

The project is based on a turnkey contract signed in 2017 with Holtec International of the United States. Under this agreement, Holtec supplied HI-STORM FW systems and associated equipment for dry fuel storage from both Angra 1 and Angra 2. Angra 1 is a Westinghouse-designed 609 MWe pressurized water reactor, while Angra 2 is a Siemens-designed 1275 MWe PWR. The different designs and licensing frameworks of the two units added complexity to the project, requiring Holtec to adapt handling cranes and loading equipment to enable safe transfer of fuel into the multi-purpose canisters and their movement to dry storage.

The storage system is designed to hold fuel after its cooling period in pools. It relies on steel-and-concrete canisters that provide protection and long-term safety. This approach is consistent with practices in the United States and is engineered to withstand extreme natural events such as earthquakes and floods.

In addition to robust storage containers, the facility includes physical protection measures, radiation and temperature monitoring systems, an armored access control center, and a technical workshop. Its construction was driven by the need to address the limited capacity of the cooling pools at both Angra units, ensuring continued safe operation as the reactors advance through their extended lifespans.