Sloshing Suppression Method for a Rectangular Pool Using Immersed Blocks and Baffle Plates

Abstract

There is a possibility that water in a spent fuel storage pool may overflow due to sloshing during long-period earthquakes. Therefore, this paper presents two sloshing suppression methods for a rectangular pool to reduce the volume of overflow water. Vibration tests were carried out to evaluate the volume of overflow water. The 1/20-scale model pool is used. First method is applying immersed blocks on the bottom of the rectangular pool. The volume of the water over the sidewall should be the maximum when the 1st sloshing mode is excited, and this behavior has significant influence on the volume of overflow water. The immersed blocks suppress the 1st sloshing mode, thereby reducing the over flow water. Vibration test were conducted by changing the following conditions: height of blocks, open area ratio, block position in the excitation direction, and number of opening sections. Changing of the natural frequencies and the amplification ratios are confirmed by the sinusoidal sweep test. In random wave excitation tests, the volume of overflow water from the pool with the best configuration blocks is lower than about 60% of that from the regular pool. Second method is applying horizontal baffle plates on the sidewall of rectangular pool. Horizontal baffle plate is a well-known sloshing suppression method. However, there is a little information about the relationship between installation condition of baffle plate and volume of overflow water Vibration test were conducted by changing the following conditions: installation height level, overhang length of baffle plate. In random wave excitation tests, the volume of overflow water from the pool with the best installation condition baffle plate is lower than 40% of that from the regular pool.