Experimental setup for hydraulic resistance measurements on spent nuclear fuel

A laboratory scale hot cell installation was developed for studying challenges in conditioning leaking spent fuel for safe mid-term dry storage. Regardless of the drying approach of spent fuel, axial gas flow through the fuel column is the most important physical fuel property, and it also links directly to various safety aspects, such as fuel behavior in loss of coolant accident (LOCA). The installation was developed to measure the hydraulic resistance in spent fuel column, for both intact and non-intact, using argon, helium and water vapor. The design took into account several limitations of hot cell environment, such as small dimensions, manipulator operations, degradation of components under radiation, and overall safety issues.