US 11,837,373 B2
Hazardous material repository systems and methods
Richard A. Muller, Berkeley, CA (US)
Assigned to Deep Isolation, Inc., Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed by Deep Isolation, Inc., Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed on May 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/750,632.
Application 17/750,632 is a continuation of application No. 17/001,057, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,338,338.
Application 17/001,057 is a continuation of application No. 16/796,821, filed on Feb. 20, 2020, granted, now 10,751,769, issued on Aug. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/833,106, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/808,791, filed on Feb. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/808,813, filed on Feb. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/808,565, filed on Feb. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/808,623, filed on Feb. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0288658 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G21D 7/04 (2006.01); G21F 9/34 (2006.01); B09B 1/00 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); G21H 1/10 (2006.01); H10N 10/13 (2023.01); G21F 1/00 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC G21D 7/04 (2013.01) [B09B 1/008 (2013.01); E21B 41/005 (2013.01); E21B 41/0085 (2013.01); G21F 9/34 (2013.01); G21H 1/103 (2013.01); H10N 10/13 (2023.02); E21B 7/04 (2013.01); E21B 33/12 (2013.01); E21B 33/1204 (2013.01); E21B 33/1208 (2013.01); G21F 1/00 (2013.01); Y02E 30/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power generator, comprising:
a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation;
a hazardous waste repository formed in the drillhole;
one or more nuclear waste canisters positioned in the hazardous waste repository, each of the one or more nuclear waste canisters storing nuclear waste;
one or more heat source heat transfer members in at least thermal contact with a heat source in the hazardous waste repository;
one or more heat sink heat transfer members in at least thermal contact with a heat sink in the hazardous waste repository;
one or more thermoelectric generators thermally coupled to the one or more heat source heat transfer members and the one or more heat sink heat transfer members, the one or more thermoelectric generators configured to generate electric power based on a temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink; and
two or more springs configured to urge the one or more heat source heat transfer members and the one or more heat sink heat transfer members into contact with a casing positioned in the drillhole.
 
11. A method for generating power in a hazardous waste repository of a drillhole that stores nuclear waste, comprising:
thermally contacting, with one or more heat source heat transfer members of a power generator, a heat source in the hazardous waste repository of the drillhole that stores nuclear waste in one or more nuclear waste canisters;
contacting, with one or more heat sink heat transfer members of the power generator, a heat sink in the hazardous waste repository;
generating electric power with one or more thermoelectric generators thermally coupled to the one or more heat source heat transfer members and the one or more heat sink heat transfer members based on a temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink; and
urging, with two or more springs, the one or more heat source heat transfer members and the one or more heat sink heat transfer members into contact with a casing positioned in the drillhole.