COOLING SYSTEMS FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, CASKS INCLUDING THE COOLING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR COOLING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL

• US 20140177775A1
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: LOEWEN, Eric Paul, TRIPLETT, Brian Scott, DOOIES, Brett Jameson
• Granted Patent: US 9,911,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 376/272
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/008 Containers for fuel elements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/10 Heat-removal systems, e.g. using circulating fluid or cooling fins
• CPC Class Codes: G21H 1/103 Cells provided with thermo-electric generators

Abstract

A cooling system for spent nuclear fuel may include a device configured to generate electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel. The cooling system may be configured to use the electricity when cooling the spent nuclear fuel. A cask for storage, transport, or storage and transport of spent nuclear fuel may include the cooling system and a container configured to hold the spent nuclear fuel. A method for cooling spent nuclear fuel may include generating electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel, and using the electricity in a cooling system for the spent nuclear fuel when cooling the spent nuclear fuel.

Claims

1. A cooling system for spent nuclear fuel, the cooling system comprising:

a device configured to generate electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel;

wherein the cooling system is configured to use the electricity when cooling the spent nuclear fuel.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to generate electricity using heat emitted from the spent nuclear fuel.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to generate electricity based on a thermoelectric effect.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to generate electricity based on a Seebeck effect.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling system comprises one or more of a compressor, a fan, a pump, and a heat exchanger.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling system comprises a coolant.

7. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises one or more of helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), radon (Rn), and nitrogen (N).

8. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises one or more of helium (He) gas, neon (Ne) gas, argon (Ar) gas, krypton (Kr) gas, xenon (Xe) gas, radon (Rn) gas, and nitrogen (N₂) gas.

9. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises air.

10. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises water.

11. The cooling system of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises liquid sodium.

12. A radioisotope thermoelectric generator, comprising:

the cooling system of claim 1.

13. A cask for storage, transport, or storage and transport of spent nuclear fuel, the cask comprising:

a container configured to hold the spent nuclear fuel; and

the cooling system of claim 1.

14. The cask of claim 13, wherein all of the cooling system is internal to the container.

15. The cask of claim 13, wherein one or more portions of the cooling system are internal to the container.

16. The cask of claim 13, wherein one or more portions of the cooling system are external to the container.

17. The cask of claim 13, wherein the cooling system comprises a coolant.

18. The cask of claim 17, wherein the coolant comprises one or more of helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), radon (Rn), and nitrogen (N).

19. The cask of claim 17, wherein the coolant comprises one or more of helium (He) gas, neon (Ne) gas, argon (Ar) gas, krypton (Kr) gas, xenon (Xe) gas, radon (Rn) gas, and nitrogen (N₂) gas.

20. The cask of claim 17, wherein the coolant comprises air.

21. The cask of claim 17, wherein the coolant comprises water.

22. The cask of claim 17, wherein the coolant comprises liquid sodium.

23. The cask of claim 13, further comprising:

a flowpath for the coolant within the container;

wherein the cooling system is configured to cause the coolant to follow the flowpath when cooling the spent nuclear fuel.

24. A method for cooling spent nuclear fuel, the method comprising:

generating electricity using energy emitted from the spent nuclear fuel; and

using the electricity in a cooling system for the spent nuclear fuel when cooling the spent nuclear fuel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating comprises generating electricity using heat emitted from the spent nuclear fuel.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating comprises generating electricity based on a thermoelectric effect.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating comprises generating electricity based on a Seebeck effect.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating comprises generating electricity using a radioisotope thermoelectric generator.