Underground system and apparatus for storing spent nuclear fuel
AssigneeHoltec International, Inx.
InventorKrishna Singh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for storing spent nuclear fuel below grade that affords adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: a body having a cavity for receiving and storing a spent fuel canister, a major portion of the body positioned below grade; the body having at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an above grade inlet to a below grade outlet in the cavity. The inlet ventilation duct can be a en elongated substantially S-shape extending from a side wall of the body to the bottom of the cavity. In another aspect, the invention is a method of storing a spent fuel canister using the system.
Claims35
A system for storing spent nuclear fuel comprising:
- a body having a cavity for receiving and storing a spent fuel canister, a major portion of the body positioned below grade;
- the body containing at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an above grade inlet to a below grade outlet, the below grade outlet being in spatial cooperation with the cavity;
- a removable lid positioned atop the body and covering the cavity so as to form a lid-to-body interface, the lid and body being a non-unitary structure;
- and
- wherein the cavity has a cross-section that accommodates no more than one spent fuel canister.
A system for storing spent nuclear fuel comprising:
- a ground having a grade level;
- a body having a cavity formed by an internal surface of the body, a major portion of the body positioned below grade;
- the body containing at least one ventilation passageway extending from an above grade opening in an exterior surface of the body to a below grade opening in the interior surface of the body, the below grade opening being in spatial communication with the cavity;
- a canister positioned in the cavity in a vertical orientation and adapted for dry storage of spent fuel;
- and
- wherein the cavity has a horizontal cross-section that accommodates no more than one canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.