Radioactive Material Canister Thermal Conduction Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging for radioactive materials experiences issues with heat transfer homogeneity, leading to potential hot spots on the outer shell and the need for complex designs involving heat conduction fins, which are not fully effective.
Innovation Solution
The packaging employs a specific orientation of hollows and thermal conduction elements that shorten the thermal conduction path and eliminate interruptions, using honeycomb structures or independent elements to provide an uninterrupted heat dissipation path without the need for fins, ensuring excellent heat transfer and simplified design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heat conduction fins are used to conduct heat from inner shroud to outer shroud, then thermal conduction capacity is improved, but hot spots are generated on the outer shell at the junctions with fins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermal conduction function into multiple parallel pathways using numerous thermal conduction elements distributed across the annular space. This segmentation distributes the heat flow across many small contact points rather than a few large fin structures, preventing concentration of heat flow and formation of hot spots on the outer shroud.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different thermal conduction elements at different locations within the annular space, optimizing heat transfer locally. The elements are positioned to create uniform heat distribution patterns across the outer shroud surface, ensuring that no single area becomes a hot spot while maintaining effective overall thermal conduction.
2Temperature
If honeycomb structures with thermal conduction fins are used, then thermal conduction capacity is partially improved, but design complexity increases and thermal conduction path is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal conduction function from the complex honeycomb fin structure and implements it through simpler, standalone thermal conduction elements. These elements directly connect the inner and outer shrouds without requiring the intermediate honeycomb framework, thereby simplifying the overall design while maintaining effective thermal conduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous thermal conduction paths by using thermal conduction elements that extend directly from the inner shroud to the outer shroud without interruptions. This eliminates the discontinuous heat transfer paths inherent in honeycomb structures, where heat must pass through multiple sheet intersections, thereby improving thermal efficiency and simplifying the design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances thermal conduction capacity, prevents hot spots, and simplifies the design by eliminating the need for heat conduction fins, while maintaining effective radiological protection and efficient heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
The means of thermal conduction make it possible to conduct the heat given off by the radioactive materials towards the outside of the container
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a canister (2) for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising a lateral body (10) defining a cavity (6) for housing the radioactive materials, said cavity extending along a longitudinal axis (8), the body (10) having an internal wall (20) and an external wall (22) between which is defined a space (14) that extends around the axis (8), this space housing radiological protection means (18) and thermal conduction means (16). According to the invention, the thermal conduction means comprise a plurality of thermal conduction elements (31) each defining, therebetween, a hollow (32) extending lengthwise in a conduction direction (36) going from the internal wall (20) to the external wall (22).