Heat pipe cooling system for safer storage of spent fuel in nuclear plant

This paper proposes completely passive cooling system utilizing heat pipe thermal diode character and natural air convection cooling of condenser, for cooling spent fuel pool. Detail analysis of various heat pipe design cases to determine the best design concept in terms of cooling power, construction and cost has been presented. The best design when considering thermal safety margin and cost is the heat pipe cooling system with capacity of 0.9 MW, 1,662 heat pipe modules. For this design case, water temperature will reach to peak 68degC after 75 hours, and then it will saturate at 50degC after 2,000 hours. The proposed heat pipe systems can be operated completely passive which will provide safer operational environment to nuclear power plants. (author)