Commercialization of AI-Enhanced Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing Technology for Real-Time Monitoring of Dry Cask Storage Systems

Safely disposing of spent nuclear fuel continues to be a key challenge for the nuclear power industry. Spent nuclear fuel generated during reactor operations have been temporarily stored in dry storage canisters while awaiting construction and licensing of a national repository. A need exists for monitoring conditions of loaded and sealed dry cask storage systems because spent nuclear fuel will continue to be stored in such systems until a final disposition is made. A typical dry storage canister is composed of an austenitic stainless-steel canister welded shut and placed within an outer concrete and steel storage cask used for radiation shielding. Environmental issues including heat and humidity along with the deposition of materials entering ventilation systems can result in stress corrosion cracking of the cannister wall. Spent nuclear fuel leakage from these canisters may cause environmental issues that are detrimental and hazardous to the public. Recently, distributed and quasi-distributed optical fiber sensing has emerged as an attractive sensing platform for spent nuclear fuel. Built upon on-going research, the project will utilize highly sensitive distributed acoustic optical fiber sensing and artificial intelligence classification frameworks to pursue feasibility demonstrations and maturation of new concepts for real-time monitoring of corrosion in nuclear spent fuel canisters. We will pursue technology validation and commercialization with particular emphasis on tailoring developed methodology for monitoring of corrosion while retaining capability for broader structural health monitoring application. The classification framework developed will enable real-time processing of measured acoustic signals for real-time feedback as well as new insights into onset and current state of corrosion for nuclear canister waste storage systems. Phase I work will provide a proof-of-concept and investigation of the commercial market opportunity. Phase II efforts will pursue further fundamental investigations of corrosion with further emphasis on welded regions and correlation with measured acoustic signatures. Phase II will also target a newly developed fully distributed acoustic sensing scheme capable of high frequency bandwidth ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation interrogation and will apply the scheme to application relevant environments with partners. Additionally, Phase II will validate market assumptions and capture market requirements for commercialization of the technology. Ultimately, the program targets to demonstrate and commercialize novel sensing technologies for nuclear storage and plant monitoring applications.