Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Contributing Inventor(s): Fred Bidrawn
Date: July 2, 2024
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International
Equipment Type: MPC
Docket Number: HOL-138
Application Number: 17/357,068
Patent Number: US 12,027,279 B2
Prior Publication Data:
US 2021/0407697 A1 Dec. 30, 2021
Related U.S. Application Data: Provisional application No. 63/043,812, filed on Jun. 25, 2020.
Abstract: A natural passively cooled ventilated cask includes a cavity which holds a canister containing heat and radiation emitting spent nuclear fuel assemblies. Cooling air inlet ducts draw ambient cooling air inwards into a lower portion of the cavity. The air heated by the canister flows upwards along the canister and is discharged from at least one air outlet duct formed by the cask lid to atmosphere via natural convective thermo-siphon flow. The air inlet ducts or at least one outlet duct in one embodiment may be fitted with an adjustable shutter plate which allows the flowrate of air entering the cask to be increased or decreased to maintain a predetermined canister maximum temperature limit selected in part to prevent the onset of stress corrosion cracking of the canister welds. Other embodiments may use a fixed orifice plate replaceable over time to maintain the minimum temperature.