Abstract: An air-cooled condenser system for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle includes an air cooled condenser having a plurality of interconnected modular cooling cells. A method for forming an axial flow baffle for a shell and tube heat exchanger includes providing a baffle workpiece, locating a centerpoint of a first axial flow tube aperture, drilling flow holes around the centerpoint of the flow aperture, and drilling a central tube hole at the centerpoint. A method of cooling high level waste includes surrounding a cask comprising an external surface and an internal storage cavity containing the high level radioactive waste which emits heat with a cooling water header; and discharging cooling water radially inwards from the cooling water header onto the external surface of the cask from the plurality of water dispensing outlets arranged on the cooling water header.

Abstract: A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack. In one aspect, the insert includes: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.

Abstract: A system for externally cooling a radiation shielded cask containing heat-emitting high level radioactive waste such as spent nuclear fuel. The system includes the cask defining an internal cavity configured to hold an unshielded canister containing the spent nuclear fuel. An annular cooling water header extends circumferentially around the entire circumference of the cylindrical sidewall of the cask. The header comprises plural dispensing outlets which direct cooling water onto the cask, thereby wetting the entire sidewall of the cask. The cooling water provides an external heat sink for absorbing the heat emitted through the external wall surface of the cask generated by the spent nuclear fuel. In various embodiments, the cooling water header may have a continuous annular structure, or be formed by two or more header segments. The header may be supported directly from the cask by detachably mounted brackets.

Abstract: A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack. In one aspect, the insert includes: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.

Abstract: An air-cooled condenser system for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle includes an air cooled condenser having a plurality of interconnected modular cooling cells. A method for forming an axial flow baffle for a shell and tube heat exchanger includes providing a baffle workpiece, locating a centerpoint of a first axial flow tube aperture, drilling flow holes around the centerpoint of the flow aperture, and drilling a central tube hole at the centerpoint. A method of cooling high level waste includes surrounding a cask comprising an external surface and an internal storage cavity containing the high level radioactive waste which emits heat with a cooling water header; and discharging cooling water radially inwards from the cooling water header onto the external surface of the cask from the plurality of water dispensing outlets arranged on the cooling water header.

Abstract: A system for externally cooling a radiation shielded cask containing heat-emitting high level radioactive waste such as spent nuclear fuel. The system includes the cask defining an internal cavity configured to hold an unshielded canister containing the spent nuclear fuel. An annular cooling water header extends circumferentially around the entire circumference of the cylindrical sidewall of the cask. The header comprises plural dispensing outlets which direct cooling water onto the cask, thereby wetting the entire sidewall of the cask. The cooling water provides an external heat sink for absorbing the heat emitted through the external wall surface of the cask generated by the spent nuclear fuel. In various embodiments, the cooling water header may have a continuous annular structure, or be formed by two or more header segments. The header may be supported directly from the cask by detachably mounted brackets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed.