SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY DERIVED FROM A SPENT FUEL CASK
First Claim
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1. A spent nuclear fuel storage container comprising:
- a canister for storing nuclear fuel; and
a heat engine in heat transfer relationship with the canister for converting a differential in heat between the latent heat of the stored nuclear fuel and an ambient environment into electrical or mechanical power.
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Abstract
Apparatus for extracting useful electric or mechanical power in significant quantities from the decay heat that is produced within spent nuclear fuel casks. The power is used for either powering an active forced air heat removal system for the nuclear casks, thereby increasing the thermal capacity of the casks, or for emergency nuclear plant power in the event of a station blackout. Thermoelectric generators or other heat engines are employed using the thermal gradient that exists between the spent nuclear fuel and the environment surrounding the cask'"'"'s components housing the nuclear fuel to produce the power.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A spent nuclear fuel storage container comprising:
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a canister for storing nuclear fuel; and a heat engine in heat transfer relationship with the canister for converting a differential in heat between the latent heat of the stored nuclear fuel and an ambient environment into electrical or mechanical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification