Evaluation of BORAL Panels from an Operating Spent Fuel Pool

Neutron absorber materials are used in spent fuel pool (SFP) storage racks to increase storage capacity while maintaining criticality safety margins. BORAL is the most commonly used neutron absorber material in SFPs in the United States and is used in many countries, including England, Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan. This paper presents the results from an analysis of neutron absorber panels that were removed from an operating SFP. These panels provide very valuable data points due to their age and unique history since they represent rack modules that were placed in two separate SFPs. Given their history and service time, these neutron absorber panels mostly bound the absorber panels within the industry.