METHOD FOR STORING RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME

摘要

A system and method for storing high level radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of storing high level radioactive waste comprising: a) positioning a metal canister containing high level radioactive waste having a heat generation rate in a storage cavity of a ventilated system comprising a cask body, a cask lid positioned atop the cask body, at least one outlet duct extending from a top of the storage cavity to an ambient atmosphere, and a plurality of inlet ducts, each of the inlet ducts extending from a first opening in the outer surface of the cask body to a second opening in the inner surface of the cask, body; and b) sealing selected ones of the plurality of inlet ducts over time as a function of a decay of the heat generation rate to maintain more a predetermined percentage of a vertical height of the metal canister above a predetermined threshold temperature.

主权项

1. A ventilated system for storing high level radioactive waste comprising:
a cask body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface forming a storage cavity for receiving high level radioactive waste; a cask lid positioned atop the cask body and enclosing a top end of the storage cavity; at least one outlet duct extending from a top of the storage cavity to an ambient atmosphere; a plurality of inlet ducts, each of the inlet ducts extending from a first opening, in the outer surface of the cask body to a second opening in the inner surface of the cask body, the plurality of inlet ducts comprising a lowermost set of inlet ducts and an uppermost set of inlet ducts; and wherein the second openings of the lowermost set of air inlet ducts are located at a first vertical distance from a bottom end of the cask body and the second openings of the uppermost set of air inlet ducts are located at a second vertical distance from the bottom end of the cask body, the second vertical distance being greater than the first vertical distance.