A SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY DERIVED FROM A SPENT FUEL CASK

摘要

Apparatus for extracting useful electric or mechanical power in significant quantities from the decay heat that is produced within spent nuclear fuel storage casks. The power is used for either powering an active forced air heat removal system for the nuclear fuel storage 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 container surface and the environment surrounding the cask's components housing the nuclear fuel to produce the power.