Thermal performance of a concrete cask: Methodology to model helium leakage from the steel canister

Abstract

Concrete cask storage systems used in dry storage allocate spent fuel within containers that are usually filled with helium at a certain pressure. Potential leaks from the container would result in a cooling degradation of fuel that might jeopardize fuel integrity if temperature exceeded a threshold value. According to ISG-11, temperatures below 673K ensure fuel integrity preservation. Therefore, the container thermal response to a loss of leaktightness is of utmost importance in terms of safety.In this work, a thermo-fluid dynamic analysis of the canister during a loss of leaktightness has been performed. To do so, steady-state and transient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been carried out. Likewise, it has been developed two methodologies capable of estimating peak fuel temperatures and heat up rates resulting from a postulated depressurization in a dry storage cask. One methodology is based on control theory and transfers functions, and the other methodology is based on a linear relationship between the inner pressure and the maximum temperature. Both methodologies have been verified through comparisons with CFD calculations.The period of time to achieve the temperature threshold (673K) is a function of pressure loss rate and decay heat of the fuel stored in the container; in case of a fuel canister with 30kW the period of time to reach the thermal limit takes between half day (fast pressure loss) and one week (slow pressure loss). In case of a 15% reduction of the decay heat, the period of time to achieve the thermal limit increase up to a few weeks. The results highlight that casks with heat loads below 20kW would never exceed the thermal threshold (673K).