Cask Storing Radioactive Nuclear Material and for Cooling Liquified Radiation Shielding Material by Controlling Flow Between Primary and Expansion Tanks

A cask for storing hazardous nuclear material and for cooling liquified radiation shielding material used for absorbing nuclear radiation from the hazardous nuclear material, the cask comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the body having a container with hazardous radioactive material;
• a primary tank having an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the primary tank body having liquified radiation shielding material therein, the primary tank situated annularly around the cylindrical body of the cask body;
• an expansion tank having an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the expansion tank body having liquified radiation shielding material therein, the expansion tank situated annularly around the cylindrical body of the primary tank;
• and
• a siphon tube in fluid communication with the primary and expansion tanks, the siphon tube enabling communication of liquified radiation shielding material between the primary and expansion tanks based upon a temperature change within the liquified radiation shielding material in the primary tank.

A cask for storing hazardous nuclear material and for cooling liquified radiation shielding material used for absorbing nuclear radiation from the hazardous nuclear material, the cask comprising:

• (a) an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the body having a container with hazardous radioactive material;
• (b) a primary tank having:
• (1) an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the body situated annularly around the cask body;
• and
• (2) a fill port situated in close proximity the top of the body;
• a drain port situated in close proximity to the bottom of the body;
• and
• liquified radiation shielding material situated within the primary tank body;
• (c) an expansion tank having:
• (1) an elongated cylindrical body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the body situated annularly around the primary tank body;
• and
• (2) liquified radiation shielding material situated with the expansion tank body;
• and
• (d) siphon tube having an elongated tubular body extending vertically between a high end and a low end, the high end being open to and in fluid communication with the primary tank, the low end being open to and in fluid communication with the expansion tank, the siphon tube enabling communication of liquified radiation shielding material between the primary and expansion tanks based upon a temperature change within the liquified radiation shielding material in the primary tank.

A method for storing hazardous nuclear material and for cooling liquified radiation shielding material used for absorbing nuclear radiation, the method comprising:

• (a) storing hazardous nuclear material in a container;
• (b) capturing the nuclear radiation with liquified radiation shielding material in a primary tank surrounding the container;
• (c) transferring a part of the liquified radiation shielding material from the primary tank into an expansion tank when a temperature of the liquified radiation shielding material in the primary tank increases;
• (d) allowing the liquified radiation shielding material to cool in the expansion tank;
• and
• (e) as the liquified radiation shielding material is cooled, permitting the cooled liquified radiation shielding material to flow from the expansion tank into the primary tank.