Patent ID: 8660230
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: B66C,G21F

Abstract:
1. A system for receiving and storing high level radioactive waste comprising: a concrete enclosure comprising walls, a roof and a floor that collectively form an internal space; the roof comprising an array of holes; an array of metal shells, each metal shell having a cavity for accommodating one or more containers holding high level radioactive waste, the array of metal shells arranged in a substantially vertical and spaced apart manner within the internal space of the enclosure, the array of the metal shells being co-axial with the array of holes of the roof so that containers holding high level radioactive waste can be lowered through the array of holes of the roof and into the cavities of the array of metal shells; the array of metal shells fastened to the floor and to the roof, the array of metal shells being load bearing columns for the roof; each of the metal shells comprising: (i) an expansion joint for accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of the metal shells; and (ii) one or more holes at a bottom portion of the metal shell that create a passageway between the internal space and the cavity of the metal shell; and the concrete enclosure comprising one or more inlet ventilations ducts forming passageways from outside of the concrete enclosure to the internal space of the concrete enclosure.