US 11,735,327 B2
Ventilated cask for nuclear waste storage
Krishna P. Singh, Jupiter, FL (US); Stephen J. Agace, Voorhees, NJ (US); and Robert Mahorter, Ocean City, NJ (US)
Assigned to HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL
Filed by HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, Camden, NJ (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/470,053.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/223,578, filed on Jul. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,234, filed on Jun. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0406481 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. G21F 5/10 (2006.01); G21F 5/00 (2006.01); G21F 5/008 (2006.01)
CPC G21F 5/10 (2013.01) [G21F 5/008 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passively ventilated nuclear waste storage system comprising:
an elongated cask body defining a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and an internal cavity extending between the top and bottom along a vertical centerline axis of the cask, the internal cavity being configured for holding a nuclear waste storage canister;
a lid attached to the top of the cask body;
an air outlet formed in the lid;
a canister support structure configured to support the canister in the internal cavity and engage a base pad, the canister support structure further configured to elevate the bottom of the cask body above the base pad to form an air inlet plenum beneath the cask body, the cannister support structure forming a floor of the internal cavity; and
an air inlet extending from an air inlet opening in a bottom surface of the cannister support structure to an air exit opening in the floor of the internal cavity, the air inlet opening in fluid communication with the plenum;
wherein ambient cooling air is drawn in a flow path radially inwards beneath the bottom of the cask body and vertically upwards into the internal cavity through the air inlet.