Abstract: A system for receiving and storing high level radioactive waste comprising: an enclosure comprising walls having inlet ventilation ducts, a roof comprising an array of holes, and a floor; an array of metal shells located in an internal space of the enclosure, the array of metal shells being co-axial with the array of holes in the roof so that containers holding high level radioactive waste can be lowered through the array of holes in the roof and into the array of metal shells; the array of metal shells acting as load bearing columns for the roof; and each of the metal shells comprising (i) an expansion joint for accommodating thermal expansion and/or contraction of the metal shells; and (ii) one or more holes at a bottom portion of the metal shell.

Abstract: A system for storing radioactive materials includes a canister having a first hermetically sealed vessel having a first cavity, a second hermetically sealed vessel having a second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity, an interstitial space between the first and second vessels, and a test port through the second vessel in fluidic communication with the interstitial space. A conduit has a first end fluidically coupled to the test port, and a removable seal is operably coupled to a second end of the conduit.

Abstract: A container system, for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports die confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage.

Abstract: A fuel storage system for storing and drying nuclear fuel rods includes a vertically oriented capsule defining an internal cavity. A plurality of fuel rod storage tubes is disposed in the cavity. In one embodiment, each storage tube has a transverse cross section configured and dimensioned to hold no more than one fuel rod. Intact or damaged fuel rods may be stored in the storage tubes. After the fuel rods are loaded into the capsule, a lid is attached to a previously open top end of the capsule. In one embodiment, the lid may be sealed welded to the capsule for forming a gas tight enclosure. The interior of the capsule and multiple fuel rods contained therein may be dried together simultaneously via flow conduits formed in the lid that can be fluidly connected to a suitable drying process such as a forced gas dehydration system.

Abstract: A system for storing high level radioactive waste. In one embodiment, the invention can be a system including an overpack body extending along a vertical axis and having a cavity for storing high level radioactive waste, the cavity having an open top end and a floor; an overpack lid positioned atop the overpack body to enclose the open top end of the cavity; an air inlet vent for introducing cool air into the cavity, the air inlet vent extending from an opening in an outer surface of the overpack body to an opening in the floor, the opening in the outer surface of the overpack body extending about an entirety of a circumference of the outer surface of the overpack body; and an air outlet vent in the overpack lid for removing warmed air from the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for storing high level radioactive waste. In one aspect, the invention is a specially designed ring structure for providing neutron and gamma radiation shielding for high level radioactive materials that produce residual heat. A plurality of the ring structures may be arranged in a stacked assembly that completely surrounds an internal containment boundary. Collars may be provided at the ring-to-ring interfaces. The ring structures may have voids which are configured for receiving neutron absorbing material that completely surrounds the containment boundary.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. In one aspect, the tubular shell is positioned to circumferentially surround the cask so that an annular gap exists between the tubular shell and a sidewall of the cask. The tubular shell includes a first air flow inlet and a second air flow inlet. An air flow barrier is placed within the annular gap, separating the annular gap into a first chamber and a second chamber. A first air flow into the first air flow inlet passes through the first chamber and into the inlet vent of the cask, a second air flow into the second air flow inlet passes through the second chamber and to an opening at the top end of the tubular shell, and the air flow barrier prohibits cross-flow of air between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for storing high level radioactive waste. In one aspect, the invention is a specially designed ring structure for providing neutron and gamma radiation shielding for high level radioactive materials that produce residual heat. A plurality of the ring structures may be arranged in a stacked assembly that completely surrounds an internal containment boundary. Collars may be provided at the ring-to-ring interfaces. The ring structures may have voids which are configured for receiving neutron absorbing material that completely surrounds the containment boundary.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. In one aspect, the tubular shell is positioned to circumferentially surround the cask so that an annular gap exists between the tubular shell and a sidewall of the cask. The tubular shell includes a first air flow inlet and a second air flow inlet. An air flow barrier is placed within the annular gap, separating the annular gap into a first chamber and a second chamber. A first air flow into the first air flow inlet passes through the first chamber and into the inlet vent of the cask, a second air flow into the second air flow inlet passes through the second chamber and to an opening at the top end of the tubular shell, and the air flow barrier prohibits cross-flow of air between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A system for storing radioactive materials includes a canister having a first hermetically sealed vessel having a first cavity, a second hermetically sealed vessel having a second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity, an interstitial space between the first and second vessels, and a test port through the second vessel in fluidic communication with the interstitial space. A conduit has a first end fluidically coupled to the test port, and a removable seal is operably coupled to a second end of the conduit.

Abstract: A method of transferring a radioactive payload and a method of performing work within a cavity of a shielding container. In one embodiment, the invention is a method comprising a) positioning a shield-gate apparatus atop a first shielding container, the shield-gate apparatus comprising a body, a passageway extending through the body, and one or more movable shielding gates that are open; and b) lifting a removable shielding lid of the first shielding container through the passageway, wherein during closing of the one or more shielding gates the removable shielding lid is maintained in a position in which either: (1) a bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is disposed within the passageway at a height above the one or more shielding gates; or (2) the bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is substantially flush with the top surface of the body of the shield-gate apparatus.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected.

Abstract: A container system, for radioactive waste and method for using the same is provided. The system includes a canister configured for holding radioactive waste and a lid system. In one embodiment, the lid system comprises a two-part lid assembly including a confinement lid and a shielded lifting lid. The confinement lid is detachably mounted to the confinement lid. In use, the lifting lid supports die confinement lid for lifting and placement on the canister. The lifting lid further shields operators while the confinement lid is mounted to the canister. Thereafter, the lifting lid is removed and may be reused for confinement lid mountings on other canisters. In one embodiment, the confinement lid is bolted to the canister. The canister may be disposed in a protective overpack for transport and storage.

Abstract: A method of transferring a radioactive payload and a method of performing work within a cavity of a shielding container. In one embodiment, the invention is a method comprising a) positioning a shield-gate apparatus atop a first shielding container, the shield-gate apparatus comprising a body, a passageway extending through the body, and one or more movable shielding gates that are open; and b) lifting a removable shielding lid of the first shielding container through the passageway, wherein during closing of the one or more shielding gates the removable shielding lid is maintained in a position in which either: (1) a bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is disposed within the passageway at a height above the one or more shielding gates; or (2) the bottom surface of the removable shielding lid is substantially flush with the top surface of the body of the shield-gate apparatus.

Abstract: A canister apparatus, basket apparatus and combinations thereof for transporting and/or storing high level radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the invention can be a basket apparatus for supporting a plurality of spent nuclear fuel rods within a containment structure, the basket apparatus comprising a plurality of disk-like grates, each disk-like grate having a plurality of cells formed by a gridwork of beams; and means for supporting the disk-like grates in a spaced arrangement with respect to one another and so that the cells of the disk-like grates are aligned.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring a radioactive payload using a shield-gate apparatus, including a method of performing work within a cavity of a shielding container using a shield-gate apparatus and shielding block, in one embodiment, the invention is a system comprising: a shield-gate apparatus comprising a body, a passageway extending along an axis through the body, and one or more movable shielding gates; a shielding block positioned atop the body of the shield-gate apparatus to enclose a first opening of the passageway; and a retaining feature that prevents relative transverse movement between the shielding block and the shield-gate apparatus while allowing relative rotation between the shielding block and the shield-gate apparatus about a central axis of the shielding block.

Abstract: A system for receiving and storing high level radioactive waste comprising: an enclosure comprising walls having inlet ventilation ducts, a roof comprising an array of holes, and a floor; an array of metal shells located in an internal space of the enclosure, the array of metal shells being co-axial with the array of holes in the roof so that containers holding high level radioactive waste can be lowered through the array of holes in the roof and into the array of metal shells; the array of metal shells acting as load bearing columns for the roof; and each of the metal shells comprising (i) an expansion joint for accommodating thermal expansion and/or contraction of the metal shells; and (ii) one or more holes at a bottom portion of the metal shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus, which can be in the form of a fuel basket, fuel rack, or the like, in which polygonal storage tubes are used not only for their internal cells but are also strategically patterned to create resultant cells with their outside surfaces.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring a radioactive payload using a shield-gate apparatus, including a method of performing work within a cavity of a shielding container using a shield-gate apparatus and shielding block, in one embodiment, the invention is a system comprising: a shield-gate apparatus comprising a body, a passageway extending along an axis through the body, and one or more movable shielding gates; a shielding block positioned atop the body of the shield-gate apparatus to enclose a first opening of the passageway; and a retaining feature that prevents relative transverse movement between the shielding block and the shield-gate apparatus while allowing relative rotation between the shielding block and the shield gate apparatus about a central axis of the shielding block.

Abstract: A system for receiving and storing high level radioactive waste comprising: an enclosure comprising walls having inlet ventilation ducts, a roof comprising an array of holes, and a floor; an array of metal shells located in an internal space of the enclosure, the array of metal shells being co-axial with the array of holes in the roof so that containers holding high level radioactive waste can be lowered through the array of holes in the roof and into the array of metal shells; the array of metal shells acting as load bearing columns for the roof; and each of the metal shells comprising (i) an expansion joint for accommodating thermal expansion and/or contraction of the metal shells; and (ii) one or more holes at a bottom portion of the metal shell.