A spent nuclear fuel storage facility. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a storage facility including an array of storage containers. Each of the storage containers includes a body portion and a lid. The body portion has a storage cavity configured to hold a canister containing spent nuclear fuel. The lid, which may rest atop the body portion in a detachable manner, includes an inlet vent and an outlet vent. Each of the storage containers may be configured to draw air through the inlet vent and into the storage cavity where the air is warmed and passed through the outlet vent as heated air. The body portion of the storage containers may be positioned below grade and the lid of the storage containers may be positioned above grade.

A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising: an air-intake shell forming an air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a storage cavity; a lid positioned atop each of the storage shells; an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of each of the storage cavities; and a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed passageways between a bottom portion of the air-intake cavity and at least two different openings at a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities such that blockage of a first one of the openings does not prohibit air from flowing from the air-intake cavity into the storage cavity via a second one of the openings.

A system and method for storing multiple canisters containing high level waste below grade that afford adequate ventilation of the spent fuel storage cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a ventilated system for storing high level waste emitting heat, the system comprising: an air-intake shell forming an air-intake cavity; a plurality of storage shells, each storage shell forming a storage cavity; a lid positioned atop each of the storage shells; an outlet vent forming a passageway between an ambient environment and a top portion of each of the storage cavities; and a network of pipes forming hermetically sealed passageways between a bottom portion of the air-intake cavity and at least two different openings at a bottom portion of each of the storage cavities such that blockage of a first one of the openings does not prohibit air from flowing from the air-intake cavity into the storage cavity via a second one of the openings.

An apparatus for saturating a buffer material includes a jig for fixing and supporting a buffer material to prevent an increase of a volume of the buffer material. The jig is provided to surround at least a portion of the buffer material. The apparatus further includes a case having a space in which the jig supporting the buffer material is accommodated, a supply unit configured to supply water vapor into the case to adjust a saturation level of the buffer material, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit to stop the supply of water vapor when the saturation level of the buffer material reaches a preset critical saturation level.

An apparatus for saturating a buffer material includes a jig for fixing and supporting a buffer material to prevent an increase of a volume of the buffer material. The jig is provided to surround at least a portion of the buffer material. The apparatus further includes a case having a space in which the jig supporting the buffer material is accommodated, a supply unit configured to supply water vapor into the case to adjust a saturation level of the buffer material, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit to stop the supply of water vapor when the saturation level of the buffer material reaches a preset critical saturation level.

An underground passively ventilated nuclear waste storage system includes an array of cavity enclosure containers each including a cavity holding a nuclear waste canister containing radioactive waste generating heat. Each container comprises at least one pair of air inlets each fluidly coupled directly to separate vertical cooling air feeder shells spaced apart from the container. The feeder shell in fluid communication with ambient air operates to draw in ventilation air which flows to the container via natural convective thermo-siphon effect driven by heat emitted from the canister which heats the container cavity. The containers are arranged in a serial spaced apart manner in multiple parallel rows. The containers within each row are fluidly isolated from containers in other rows. Containers within each row are further fluidly isolated from other containers therein when the ventilation system operates. The containers may be part of a consolidated interim storage facility for radioactive waste.

An underground passively ventilated nuclear waste storage system includes an array of cavity enclosure containers each including a cavity holding a nuclear waste canister containing radioactive waste generating heat. Each container comprises at least one pair of air inlets each fluidly coupled directly to separate vertical cooling air feeder shells spaced apart from the container. The feeder shell in fluid communication with ambient air operates to draw in ventilation air which flows to the container via natural convective thermo-siphon effect driven by heat emitted from the canister which heats the container cavity. The containers are arranged in a serial spaced apart manner in multiple parallel rows. The containers within each row are fluidly isolated from containers in other rows. Containers within each row are further fluidly isolated from other containers therein when the ventilation system operates. The containers may be part of a consolidated interim storage facility for radioactive waste.

A containment building includes a wall made of a material of the concrete type that delimits a space and at least one viewing module, the viewing module including at least one window arranged in an opening in the wall, the window having a frame in which at least one optical unit that provides protection from high-energy and/or neutron radiation is placed, the frame being fitted in the opening, the viewing module also having a protective element that includes a sash bearing a pane and is arranged so as to close the opening at the face on the inside of the building, the viewing module thus including at least one interface between two surfaces. The containment building also includes at least one sealing system arranged at at least one interface.

A containment building includes a wall made of a material of the concrete type that delimits a space and at least one viewing module, the viewing module including at least one window arranged in an opening in the wall, the window having a frame in which at least one optical unit that provides protection from high-energy and/or neutron radiation is placed, the frame being fitted in the opening, the viewing module also having a protective element that includes a sash bearing a pane and is arranged so as to close the opening at the face on the inside of the building, the viewing module thus including at least one interface between two surfaces. The containment building also includes at least one sealing system arranged at at least one interface.

An underground ventilated system for storing nuclear waste materials. The system includes a storage module having an outer shell defining an internal cavity and an inner shell. A majority of the height of the outer shell may be disposed below grade. The outer shell may include a hermetically sealed bottom. First and second canisters are positioned in lower and upper portions within the cavity respectively in vertically stacked relationship. A centering and spacing ring assembly is interspersed between the first and second canisters to transfer the weight of the upper second canister to the lower first canister. The assembly may include centering lugs which laterally restrain the first and second canisters in case of a seismic event. A natural convection driven ventilated air system cools the canisters to remove residual decay heat to the atmosphere. In one non-limiting embodiment, the shells are made of steel.