Orano's 30B-X cylinder
Standard Type 30B cylinders, currently used worldwide to transport enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6), are certified for low-enriched uranium (LEU) with up to 5% uranium-235, suitable for most commercial nuclear power plants. However, emerging nuclear fuels with higher enrichment levels, termed LEU+ (5-10% uranium-235), enable reactors to operate longer and more efficiently. These fuels require specialized transport solutions, as existing cylinders are not certified for enrichments above 5%.
The development of LEU+ and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), with enrichments up to 20% for small modular reactors, has highlighted the need for new transport solutions. Orano noted that such solutions are currently unavailable in the market. For instance, in February 2024, U.S.-based Centrus faced delays in delivering 900 kilograms of HALEU UF6 to the U.S. Department of Energy due to a lack of suitable cylinders at its Ohio facility.
Orano’s 30B-10 cylinder, also referred to as the 30B-X, is integrated into the DN30-X package, which received licensing from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March 2023. The DN30-X combines the existing DN30 overpack, which protects against mechanical and thermal impacts during transport, with the new 30B-10 cylinder. This cylinder features a criticality control system using borated steel rods to ensure safe transport of higher-enriched UF6.
Orano’s initiative addresses the growing demand for safe and efficient transport solutions for advanced nuclear fuels, supporting the global nuclear industry’s push toward enhanced reactor performance and sustainability.
