公开(公告)号：US20210343438A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US17220560

申请日：2021-04-01

Applicant: HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH ,  John D. GRIFFITHS

IPC: G21F5/12 ,  G21F5/012

Abstract: A radioactive nuclear waste storage system includes a cask comprising a hermetically sealed internal cavity configured for holding the waste such as spent nuclear fuel submerged in an inventory of water. One or more pressure surge capacitors disposed inside the cask include a vacuum cavity evacuated to sub-atmospheric conditions prior to storage of fuel in the cask. At least one rupture disk seals a vacuum chamber inside each capacitor. Each rupture disk is designed and constructed to burst at a predetermined burst pressure level occurring inside the cask external to the capacitor. This allows excess cask pressure occurring during a high pressure excursion resulting from abnormal operating conditions to bleed into capacitor, thereby returning the pressure inside the cask to acceptable levels. In one embodiment, the capacitors are located in peripheral regions of the cask cavity adjacent to the circumferential wall of the cask body.

公开(公告)号：US20210225541A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-22

申请号：US17132102

申请日：2020-12-23

Applicant: Holtec International

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH ,  John D. GRIFFITHS

IPC: G21F5/015 ,  G21F5/06 ,  G21C19/32 ,  G21F5/005

Abstract: An impact amelioration system for nuclear fuel storage components in one embodiment includes a fuel storage canister and outer cask receiving the canister. The canister is configured for storing spent nuclear fuel or other high level radioactive waste. A plurality of impact limiter assemblies are disposed on the bottom closure plate of the cask at the canister interface. Each impact limiter assembly comprises an impact limiter plug frictionally engaged with a corresponding plug hole formed in the cask closure plate. The canister rests on tops of the plugs, which may protrude upwards beyond the top surface of the bottom closure lid. The plugs and holes may mating tapered and frictionally engaged surfaces. During a cask drop event, the canister drives the plugs deeper into the plug holes and elastoplastically deform to dissipate the kinetic impact energy and protect the structural integrity of the canister and its contents.

公开(公告)号：US20200082953A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16568078

申请日：2019-09-11

Applicant: Holtec International

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH ,  Paul Stefan ANTON

IPC: G21F5/10 ,  G21F5/008 ,  G21F1/12

Abstract: A passively cooled storage module for spent nuclear fuel includes an elongated body including a top end, bottom end, sidewall, baseplate, detachable lid, and cavity for holding a fuel canister containing heat-emitting spent nuclear fuel assemblies. Cooling air inlet ducts spaced draw ambient cooling air radially inwards into a lower portion of the cavity. The air flows upwards in the cavity along the canister and is discharged from the top end of the module to atmosphere via natural circulation. The air inlet ducts may have a multi-angled and recurving configuration comprising one or more obliquely angled sections in one embodiment. The exterior inlet end openings of the inlet ducts are arranged at a higher elevation than the interior outlet end openings to prevent the ingress of standing and flood-related waters. The ducts and lid include radiation shielding features.

公开(公告)号：US20140316182A1

公开(公告)日：2014-10-23

申请号：US14271101

申请日：2014-05-06

Applicant: Holtec International

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH

IPC: G21F5/10

CPC classification number: G21F5/10 ,  G21F7/015 ,  G21Y2002/301 ,  G21Y2002/304 ,  G21Y2002/305 ,  G21Y2002/50 ,  G21Y2004/30 ,  G21Y2004/40

Abstract: A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising: an air-intake shell forming an air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a storage cavity; a lid positioned atop each of the storage shells; an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of each of the storage cavities; and a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed passageways between a bottom portion of the air-intake cavity and at least two different openings at a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities such that blockage of a first one of the openings does not prohibit air from flowing from the air-intake cavity into the storage cavity via a second one of the openings.

Abstract translation: 一种用于储存多个罐的系统和方法，所述多个罐包含低于等级的高级废物，以提供乏燃料储存空间的充分通风。 一方面，本发明是用于存储高水平废物排放热的通风系统，该系统包括：形成进气腔的进气壳; 多个存储壳，每个存储壳形成存储腔; 位于每个储存壳上方的盖子; 出口通气口，其在周围环境和每个存储空腔的顶部部分之间形成通道; 以及管道网络，其形成在进气腔的底部之间的气密密封的通道和每个储存腔的底部处的至少两个不同的开口，使得第一个开口的阻塞不会阻止空气 通过第二个开口从进气腔流入储存腔。

公开(公告)号：US20140177776A1

公开(公告)日：2014-06-26

申请号：US14148616

申请日：2014-01-06

Applicant: Holtec International, Inc.

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH

IPC: G21C19/06

CPC classification number: G21C19/06

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing spent nuclear fuel below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising: a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade; and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an above grade inlet to a below grade outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity; the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell so that the cavity is hermetically sealed to ingress of below grade fluids. In another aspect, the invention is a method comprising: providing a below grade hole; providing a system comprising a shell forming a cavity for receiving a canister of spent nuclear fuel, at least a portion of the shell positioned below grade, and at least one inlet ventilation duct extending from an inlet to an outlet at or near a bottom of the cavity, the inlet ventilation duct connected to the shell; positioning the apparatus in the hole so that the inlet of the inlet ventilation duct is above grade and the outlet of the inlet ventilation duct into the cavity is below grade; filling the hole with engineered fill; and lowering a spent fuel canister into the cavity.

Abstract translation: 将乏燃料储存在低于等级的储存空间的充足通风的系统和方法。 一方面，本发明是一种系统，包括：壳体，其形成用于接收废核燃料的罐的空腔，所述壳体的至少一部分位于等级以下; 以及至少一个入口通风管道，其从上述等级入口延伸到在所述空腔的底部处或附近的低于等级的出口; 入口通风管道连接到壳体，使得腔体密封到低于等级流体的入口。 在另一方面，本发明是一种方法，包括：提供下一级孔; 提供一种系统，其包括形成用于容纳废核燃料的罐的空腔的壳体，所述壳体的至少一部分位于等级以下，以及至少一个入口通风管道，从入口延伸到出口处， 空腔，入口通风管连接到外壳; 将设备定位在孔中，使得入口通风管道的入口高于等级，入口通风管道的出口进入空腔低于等级; 用工程填充填充孔; 并将乏燃料罐降低到空腔中。

公开(公告)号：US20140105347A1

公开(公告)日：2014-04-17

申请号：US14072672

申请日：2013-11-05

Applicant: Holtec International, Inc.

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH ,  Stephen J. AGACE

IPC: G21C19/07 ,  G21F5/012

CPC classification number: G21C19/07 ,  G21F5/012

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus, which can be in the form of a fuel basket, fuel rack, or the like, in which polygonal storage tubes are used not only for their internal cells but are also strategically patterned to create resultant cells with their outside surfaces.

Abstract translation: 用于支撑放射性燃料组件的装置，例如乏核燃料。 在一个方面，本发明是一种装置，其可以是燃料篮，燃料架等的形式，其中多边形储存管不仅用于其内部电池，而且还被策略地图案化以产生合成的电池 与他们的外表面。

公开(公告)号：US20140047733A1

公开(公告)日：2014-02-20

申请号：US14060384

申请日：2013-10-22

Applicant: Holtec International, Inc.

Inventor： Krishna P. SINGH ,  John D. GRIFFITHS

IPC: G21F5/06 ,  G21F9/34 ,  F26B5/12 ,  G21C19/32

CPC classification number: G21F5/06 ,  F26B5/04 ,  F26B5/12 ,  F26B21/08 ,  F26B21/14 ,  G21C19/32 ,  G21F5/005 ,  G21F5/008 ,  G21F9/28 ,  G21F9/34

Abstract: A method for preparing a cavity loaded with wet radioactive elements for dry storage, the method including: connecting a condensing module, a vacuum module, and a gas circulator module to the cavity so as to form a hermetically sealed closed-loop path that includes the cavity; filling the closed-loop path with a non-reactive gas; circulating the non-reactive gas through the closed-loop path until the condensing module is no longer removing substantial amounts of water from the circulating non-reactive gas, wherein the vacuum module is sealed off from the closed-loop path during the circulating; discontinuing the circulation of the non-reactive gas through the closed-loop path; fluidly coupling the vacuum module to the cavity and fluidly isolating the cavity and the vacuum module; and applying a vacuum pressure to the cavity via the vacuum module so as to create a sub-atmospheric pressure within the cavity.

Abstract translation: 一种用于制备装有用于干燥储存的湿式放射性元素的空腔的方法，所述方法包括：将冷凝模块，真空模块和气体循环器模块连接到所述空腔，以形成气密密闭的闭环路径，其包括 腔体 用非反应性气体填充闭环路径; 使非反应性气体循环通过闭环路径，直到冷凝模块不再从循环的非反应性气体中除去大量的水，其中真空模块在循环期间与闭环路径密封; 停止通过闭环路径的非反应性气体的循环; 将真空模块流体耦合到空腔并流体地隔离空腔和真空模块; 以及通过所述真空模块向所述空腔施加真空压力，以在所述空腔内产生次大气压。