Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Date: Aug. 9, 2022
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International
Equipment Type: Transfer Cask
Docket Number: HOL-126
Application Number: 16/779,908
Patent Number: US 11,410,784 B2
Prior Publication Data: US 2021/0280332 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Related U.S. Application Data: Provisional application No. 62/799,868, filed on Feb. 1, 2019.
Abstract: A system for externally cooling a cask containing heat-emitting spent nuclear fuel includes the cask comprising a radiation shielding body defining an internal cavity configured to hold a canister containing the spent nuclear fuel. A continuously annular cooling jacket extends circumferentially around an external surface of the cask body. The cooling jacket may have a double shell construction including an internal cavity for a cooling medium which provides an external heat sink for absorbing heat radiated from the external wall surface of the cask generated by the spent nuclear fuel. The heat emitted by the spent nuclear fuel is absorbed by the cooling medium in the cooling jacket, thereby in turn cooling the cask. In one embodiment, the cooling medium may be dry ice which undergoes sublimation by absorbing the heat to change from solid to gaseous phase directly. The jacket may be formed of multiple segments.
