A METHOD FOR RECCOLING OF A RESERVOIR FOR TRANSPORTING AND/OR STORAGE THERMAL ELEMENTS LOADED WITH BURNT - UP THERMAL ELEMENTS

摘要

A transport/storage container holding spent radioactive fuel elements is cooled by withdrawing gases from inside the container to create a subatmospheric pressure therein, feeding coolant water from a reservoir into the container, withdrawing steam from the container, and condensing the steam outside the container into condensate water. A common pump is used both to withdraw gases and steam from the container. The steam is condensed by contacting it with water drawn from the reservoir. In addition the water drawn from the reservoir is passed countercurrent to the steam in a condenser and the condensate water is fed back to the reservoir.