US 5,314,264 AGranted

Method and apparatus for underground nuclear waste repository

AssigneeUniversity of Nevada

InventorsGeorge Danko, Pierre Mousset-Jones, Richard A. Wirtz

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Abstract

The present invention relates to the retrievable storage of high-level nuclear spent fuel. Such waste, which generates heat as it decays, is packed in sealed containers (2) which are placed in a repository site comprising a tunnel or drift (5) in a geological rock formation (50) for permanent or long-term storage. Elongated, sealed cooling enhancement devices (7) are emplaced in boreholes (8) extending from the inside surfaces (16a-b) of the drift (5) and carry heat from the location of the waste containers (5) to farther distances in the repository site. Applicable sealed cooling enhancement devices disclosed are heat pipes (7), thermal syphons (307), superconductor rods, and heat pumps (407). In accordance with a preferred embodiment, conventional mining rock bolts which are hollowed contain a cooling enhancement choice.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A long-term repository system for the storage of heat generating spent nuclear fuel, comprising:

(a) a mechanically stable geological formation constituting a natural barrier system for said spent fuel;
(b) a drift tunnel defined in said geological formation, said drift tunnel having a height and a width, and a length much greater than said height and said width:
(c) a plurality of containers of spent, heat generating nuclear fuel, said containers being positioned in said drift tunnel, said drift tunnel and container characteristics being such that each container heats a section of said drift tunnel wall;
(d) at least three elongated heat transfer boreholes having a length and having an average cross-sectional width much smaller than said length and extending from said heated drift tunnel wall section into a heat dissipation region in said geological formation, said at least three heat transfer boreholes and said heat dissipation region extending around said drift tunnel in a vertical sense;
and
(e) a plurality of elongated heat transfer devices extending into and through each said elongated heat transfer borehole to said heat dissipation region to transfer heat from said heated drift tunnel wall section to said heat dissipation region.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.