Course in Dry Cask Storage Strategies
Online 300-hour course in dry cask storage strategies. 6 modules covering 10 CFR 72 (independent storage of spent fuel), NUREG-2215 (review of dry storage systems) and MCNP. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the role of dry storage in spent fuel management.
Analyse the thermal, structural and shielding design bases.
Explain the loading, drying and transfer operations.
Plan monitoring during long-term storage.
Evaluate physical security and safeguards aspects.
Interpret the applicable licensing requirements.
Develop a dry storage project for a power plant.
Who it's for
- Spent fuel storage engineer wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- Criticality analyst wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- Shielding engineer wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- ATI management specialist wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- Licensing engineer wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- Container loading operations technician wishing to specialise in Dry Cask Storage Strategies.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter nuclear power plants.
What you'll work with
- 10 CFR 72 (independent storage of spent fuel)
- NUREG-2215 (review of dry storage systems)
- IAEA SSG-15 (storage of spent fuel)
- CSN Instruction IS-29 (temporary storage of spent fuel)
- IAEA SSR-6 (transport of radioactive material)
- 10 CFR 71 (transport packaging)
- Directive 2011/70/Euratom (spent fuel and radioactive waste management)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Status of spent fuel after discharge1.2Pool storage versus dry storage1.3Reasons for moving to dry storage: capacity and facility closure1.4Metal cask and vault systems1.5Dual-purpose casks for storage and transport1.6Components: basket, shielding, sealing and overpack1.7Centralised and individual facilities1.8International experience and real service lives1.9Regulatory framework and licensing1.10Exercise: comparing two storage concepts
2.1Fuel characterisation: burn-up, cooling and geometry2.2Residual thermal power and its evolution2.3Heat removal by natural convection2.4Maximum cladding temperature criteria2.5Gamma and neutron shielding2.6Subcriticality control and absorbing materials2.7System confinement and leak-tightness2.8Seismic, drop and impact loads2.9Protection against external events2.10Practice: verifying the thermal criteria of a design
3.1Loading sequence in the pool3.2Draining, drying and backfilling with inert gas3.3Welding or bolting of the seal, and testing3.4Verification of leak-tightness and external contamination3.5Transfer to the storage pad3.6Personnel dosimetry during the campaign3.7Optimisation of the campaign's collective dose3.8Incident management during loading3.9Recording and traceability of each container3.10Practice: planning a loading campaign
4.1Temperature and air flow monitoring4.2Leak-tightness and pressure monitoring4.3Periodic visual inspection, manual and robotic4.4Long-term material degradation4.5Stress corrosion cracking in saline environments4.6Degradation of concrete and seals4.7Radiological monitoring of the site4.8International ageing management programmes4.9Ageing management and licence extension4.10Practice: inspection programme for a facility
5.1Physical protection of the facility5.2Inventory control and safeguards5.3Storage emergency plan5.4Fuel retrievability and re-encapsulation5.5Transport following a centralised store5.6Compatibility with future final management5.7Social acceptance and local communication5.8Costs and financial guarantees5.9Decisions that affect future generations5.10Practice: analysing the retrievability of a system
6.1Selection of the fuel inventory to be stored6.2Concept selection and justification6.3Thermal and shielding verification6.4Subcriticality analysis6.5Loading plan and dose estimation6.6Monitoring and ageing programme6.7Physical protection and emergency plan6.8Budget and schedule6.9Technical report6.10Defence of the work
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MCNP, SCALE (ORIGEN, KENO), ANSYS Fluent, ABAQUS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures for thermal analysis of containers, shielding and criticality calculations, and inspection of canister welds. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the role of dry storage in spent fuel management.
Analyse the thermal, structural and shielding design bases.
Explain the loading, drying and transfer operations.
Plan monitoring during long-term storage.
Evaluate physical security and safeguards aspects.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with MCNP, SCALE (ORIGEN, KENO), ANSYS Fluent and ABAQUS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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