Nuclear Fuel Storage Cask Cooling Circuit Without External Vents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel storage casks rely on ambient air convection through vents that can become blocked, necessitating frequent maintenance and increasing operating costs due to potential overheating risks.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained cooling system within the fuel storage cask, featuring an inner and outer passage for coolant circulation, which absorbs heat from the inner cavity and dissipates it through the outer perimeter, reducing dependency on external airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling vents are used to allow ambient air convection, then heat dissipation is achieved, but the vents become blocked by foreign objects causing maintenance issues and potential overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the external environment (ambient air convection) and relocates it to a self-contained internal system. The cooling circuit with coolant circulation removes the dependency on external airflow, eliminating the vulnerability to vent blockages while maintaining effective heat dissipation from the fuel storage cask.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to be self-contained and autonomous, using an internal coolant circulation circuit that does not require external airflow or manual intervention. The system serves itself by continuously circulating coolant through the cooling circuit to maintain thermal management without requiring external maintenance or being susceptible to environmental contaminants.
2Temperature
If cooling vents are installed for heat dissipation, then cooling is achieved, but periodic inspection and maintenance are required increasing operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
The self-contained cooling circuit operates autonomously without requiring external airflow or manual maintenance. The closed-loop coolant circulation system manages heat dissipation independently, eliminating the need for periodic vent inspections and cleaning, thereby reducing operating costs and maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the maintenance-prone external venting system and replaces it with an internal closed-loop cooling circuit. This extraction of the cooling function from the external environment eliminates the need for periodic maintenance associated with ambient air convection systems.
3Temperature
If ambient air convection is used for cooling, then cooling is achieved, but the system becomes dependent on external airflow which may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling capability from dependency on external ambient air convection and establishes a self-contained internal cooling circuit. This allows the system to maintain effective heat dissipation independent of external airflow conditions, enhancing adaptability to various environmental situations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on external airflow to cool the cask (outside-in approach), the invention inverts the approach by using an internal coolant circulation system that cools the fuel rods directly from within. This reversal eliminates dependency on external conditions and provides controlled thermal management.
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
Maintains the fuel storage cask at an operable temperature without requiring external vents, minimizing maintenance and operating costs while effectively dissipating heat.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant is configured to move through the inner passage, absorbing heat from the inner cavity of the outer shell
Implementation Method 2
the coolant is configured to move through the outer passage, dissipating heat through the outer perimeter of the outer shell
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear fuel storage cask includes an outer shell having a length extending from a first end to a second end of the outer shell, the outer shell defining an inner cavity circumscribed by the outer shell, an outer perimeter extending around the outer shell, an inner perimeter positioned inward from the outer perimeter, and a cooling circuit extending along the length of the outer shell, the cooling circuit including an inner passage, and an outer passage, a coolant positioned within the cooling circuit, where the coolant is configured to move through the inner passage, absorbing heat from the inner cavity of the outer shell, and the coolant is configured to move through the outer passage, dissipating heat through the outer perimeter of the outer shell, and a lid coupled the outer shell, where the lid covers the inner cavity of the outer shell.