Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Handling of fission reactor component structure within... – Storage container systems for new and/or irradiated core...
Patent
1998-02-04
1999-07-06
Jordan, Charles T.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Handling of fission reactor component structure within...
Storage container systems for new and/or irradiated core...
376273, 376274, 405128, 588 16, G21C 1900, G21F 900
Patent
active
059206020
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an underground storage facility for the interim storage of waste transportable in a container, in particular radioactive waste such as spent fuel elements, with transport gallery diving access to a storage gallery for interim storage of the waste. The invention further relates to a method for interim storage of waste, in particular of spent fuel elements, in an underground storage facility with transport gallery giving access to a storage gallery, the waste being transported to the storage facility in an inner container of a transport container.
Before radioactive waste such as spent fuel elements reach a final storage facility, they are frequently kept for many years in an interim storage facility. The latter is in particular an underground storage facility located inside a mountain. In the known storage facilities, storage galleries lead off from a transport gallery and the waste is deposited inside these in transport containers. Since these transport containers are very expensive, considerable financial resources are bound up in a storage facility. The dimensions of the transport containers mean that the storage galleries have to be designed fairly wide. This has the drawback that cooling air cannot flow through the storage galleries by connection at the required rate, and instead it is necessary to install special equipment in order to achieve the necessary control of the flow. Since the transport containers are arranged one behind the other inside a storage gallery, it is rather difficult to transfer the transport containers or to remove a transport container located at the front of a storage gallery, since in this case the containers at the front (when viewed from the transport gallery) have to be removed first of all.
An underground storage facility for spent nuclear reactor fuel elements is known from DE 33 40 101 A1.The storage areas are inside a cavern area of elliptical cross-section. Inside this storage area the fuel elements are arranged in individual horizontal storage pipes. Cooling air lows vertically upwards through the storage area. The lower part of the cavern area of elliptical cross-section is used for air supply, and the upper part for air removal. Individual pipes branch off from the main air supply and removal pipes in order to supply the individual storage areas with cooling air.
DE 39 4 65C1 describes a storage facility in which radioactive wastes are deposited in a borehole. Corresponding proposals to solve the problem can be found in WO 88/08608, EP 0 093 671B1 and DE 28 39 759A1.
According to DE 24 33 168B2, caverns extend from a transverse gallery designated as the transport gallery and are used for the storage of radioactive wastes. To transport or transfer radioactive materials, loading machinery or shielding bells are known from DE 32 48 592C2 and DE 40 34 710A1.
The problem underlying the present invention is to develop an underground storage facility and a method for interim storage of waste of the type mentioned at the outset such that inexpensive yet safe interim storage is possible, where a simple introduction or rapid transfer has to be possible. Cooling of the waste by convection should also be possible without any problem.
The problem is solved in accordance with the invention by an underground storage facility characterized mainly in that the storage gallery runs underneath the transport gallery and is separated from the latter by a floor designed as a transport level having closable openings intended for introduction and removal of the waste. The openings are closed with locking covers having a shielding function and separating the storage gallery from the transport gallery in respect of the effects of radiation. The storage gallery has an approximately rectangular cross-section and the transport gallery an approximately semi-elliptical or semi-oval cross-section, with the width of the storage gallery being less than that of the transport gallery. Cooling of the containers containing radioactive materials and stored in the storage gallery,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4253030 (1981-02-01), Held et al.
Botzem Werner
Spilker Harry
Jordan Charles T.
Lattig Matthew J
Nukem GmbH
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