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Tne Spent Fuel Test-Climax (SFT-C) is located 420 m below surface in the Climax stock granite on the Nevada Test Site. The test is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the technical direction of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Eleven canisters of spent nuclear reactor fuel were emplaced, and six electrical simulators were energized April-May 1980, thus initiating a test with a planned 3-to 5-year fuel storage phase.

The Spent Fuel Test-Climax (SFT-C) is a test of the feasibility of safe and reliable short-term storage and retrieval of spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors. In support of operational and technical goals of the test, about 850 channels of instrumentation have been installed at the SFT-C. Failure of several near-field instruments began less than six months after emplacement of 11 canisters of spent fuel and activation of six thermally similar simulators. The failed units were linear potentiometers (used to make displacement measurements) and vibrating wire stressmeters (used to maKe change-in-stress measurements). This report discusses the observed problems and remedial actions taken to date.

Work performed unde r the auspices of the L.S. O e partment o f Energy by La wrence Li verm o re :\ ational La borato ry und er Co ntract W-740 5-Eng-48.

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