Heat removal and hybrid ventilation characteristics of a vertical dry storage cask for spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used in this study to numerically simulate the heat removal and hybrid ventilation characteristics of a vertical dry storage cask for spent nuclear fuel. The parameters included a Grashof number of 1.0x1011, an approaching wind incidence angle of 0° or 45°, and a Reynolds number (Re) of 2.7×104-8.0×105 (Gr/Re2=0.15-137). As shown by the results, the buoyant airflow dominated the heat removal capability of the cask at low Re (2.7×104). When the Re was increased to 5.3×104-1.3×105, the wind-induced channel airflow compromised the buoyant airflow, thus reducing the heat removal capacity of the cask. When the Re was⩾2.7×105, the wind-induced airflow dominated.