Nuclear fuel storage facility
AssigneeHoltec International
InventorKrishna P. Singh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spent nuclear fuel storage facility. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a storage facility including an array of storage containers. Each of the storage containers includes a body portion and a lid. The body portion has a storage cavity configured to hold a canister containing spent nuclear fuel. The lid, which may rest atop the body portion in a detachable manner, includes an inlet vent and an outlet vent. Each of the storage containers may be configured to draw air through the inlet vent and into the storage cavity where the air is warmed and passed through the outlet vent as heated air. The body portion of the storage containers may be positioned below grade and the lid of the storage containers may be positioned above grade.
Claims20
A low profile system for below grade storage of spent nuclear fuel comprising:
- an array of storage containers, each of the storage containers comprising:
- an elongated body portion embedded in an engineered fill below grade, the body portion including a floor plate at bottom, an open top end, and a storage cavity extending between the floor plate and the open top end configured for holding a canister containing spent nuclear fuel;
- a lid positioned above grade, the lid removably coupled to and enclosing the open top end of the body portion;
- the lid comprising a plurality of air inlet vents and at least one air outlet vent, each of the vents forming a passageway from the cavity to ambient atmosphere;
- a top concrete pad disposed on top of the engineered fill, an upper part of the body portion of each storage container being embedded in the concrete pad such that the open top end of the body portion is positioned adjacent a top surface of the concrete pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.