[en] Thermal energy storage is a technology under investigation since the early 1970s. Since then, numerous new applications have been found and much work has been done to bring this technology to the market. Nevertheless, the materials used either for latent or for sensible storage were mostly investigated 30 years ago, and the research has lead to improvement in their performance under different conditions of applications. In those years a significant number of new materials were developed in many fields other than storage and energy, but a great effort to characterize and classify these materials was done. Taking into account the fact that thousands of materials are known and a large number of new materials are developed every year, the authors use the methodology for materials selection developed by Prof. Ashby to give an overview of other materials suitable to be used in thermal energy storage. Sensible heat storage at temperatures between 150 and 200 C is defined as a case study and two different scenarios were considered: long term sensible heat storage and short term sensible heat storage. (author)

No abstract available

[en] A study was conducted to assess the environmental impacts of aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES). Rational procedures to assess the impacts of seasonal thermal energy storage on the eco-system have yet to be developed, particularly for aquifer systems. Eight countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA) have participated in aquifer thermal energy storage development in a cooperative research and development program under the aegis of the International Energy Agency. Details of research work that has been completed are presented. Benefits of ATES include: less reliance on non-renewable fuels; less environmental degradation; less generation of nuclear fuel waste; greater utilization of available energy; potential for harnessing solar energy; seasonal storage aspects; and decreased potential for groundwater contamination compared to individual heat pump use. Disadvantages include potential geo-thermal reactions and microbiological changes; and increased potential for aquifer contamination from improper design and execution. Rationalizing environmental assessment, rational procedures, water chemistry considerations, well clogging, scaling and corrosion, and microorganisms in ATES sytems are discussed. 52 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs

[en] The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 (NWPAA) authorized the DOE to site, construct, and operate Monitored Retrievable Storage. The Modular Vault Dry Store is a technology which has been in commercial operation in the United Kingdom for 20 years. Recently, this technology has been adapted to the requirements of Light Water Reactor Spent Fuel. This technology is ideally suited for use in the US DOE's Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) Program. It is available now for deployment, meeting all the requirements of a MRS

[en] Recently, electronic and electrical products have problems how to reduce heat in trend reducing size and increasing speed. heat pipes worked by latent heats can solve problems for effective and quiet electronic applications. Heat Pipes have to be suitably designed for the external conditions due to showing optimum performance. it has influence on efficiency of heat pipes to the exterior structure changed by length, bending angle, diameter. Designing heat pipes has depended on experience from trial and error. this method wasted too many resources, but can't guarantee efficiency. to prevent those wastes, this study aims at making the thermal transfer coefficient predicting efficiency. In this study, the thermal transfer coefficient has been made from experimental results that used variables - lengths between heat source and radiation, bending angles, diameters of heat pipes. variables become non-dimensional in modeling process for making the coefficient

[en] SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage) is an emerging technology offering tremendous potential benefits to the utility industry. San Diego Gas ampersand Electric (SDG ampersand E) and Bechtel are leading a team of companies and national laboratories working towards design and construction of the world's first demonstration facility for large, commercial SMES for enhancing transmission stability in the Southwestern United States

[en] In a resounding show of support for the development of a private monitored retrievable storage (MRS) facility for the storage of spent commercial nuclear fuel, 33 utilities and two nuclear industry contractors have signed on with the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Northern States Power Company to further explore such a project. Representatives from 34 utilities gathered on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in southern New Mexico on March 10-11 to hear the tribe's proposal for a privately owned and operated MRS. The preliminary business plan developed for the project sets forth the terms of facility use for utilities that are interested in joining, estimates implementation costs, and describes storage capacity requirements. The Mescaleros would have majority ownership in the venture, and a board of directors would represent equity holders. Completion of the project would be contingent on the ability of NSP and the Mescaleros to site and license the facility; to agree on a design; to finish construction and begin operation; to ensure an adequate system for transport of spent fuel to the site; and to plan for site remediation

[en] The NUHOMS reg-sign dry storage system for spent fuel is now in use at two Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSIs) and a third is under construction. This system can be used for economic storage at the MRS. Multi-assembly canisters may be shipped to the MRS directly from the ISFSI or the reactor spent fuel pool. Canisters also may be loaded with fuel assemblies at the MRS. The interfaces between the ISFSI, the DOE transportation system, and the MRS are described for the NUHOMS reg-sign system. The design criteria for the NUHOMS reg-sign systems and the applicability of the criteria to the MRS are also discussed

[en] Social scientists are accumulating a growing body of research to guide the development of communications models for siting controversial facilities. The models emphasize building consensus by involving all stakeholders, including opponents, in the decision-making process from its earliest stages. Communications should focus on issues and concerns that are most relevant to the people in the involved community. Finally, trust must be built through local control of the decision-making process. This paper presents experiences in the voluntary siting process for the Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) facility for spent nuclear fuel in three locations: Grant County, North Dakota, Fremont County, Wyoming, and the Mescalero Apache nation in New Mexico

[en] The Monitored Retrievable Storage facility (MRS) is an integral component of the planned Federal radioactive waste management system. The MRS will temporarily store spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants prior to shipment to a geologic repository for permanent disposal. To facilitate voluntary siting of an MRS facility, Congress, in 1987, authorized the award of feasibility assessment grants by the Department of Energy to assist potentially interested jurisdictions to consider the possibility of hosting an MRS. This paper addresses the experience with MRS feasibility assessment grants to date, reviewing the current status of grant applications and presenting observations on the grant program and the voluntary siting approach, which it supports. The authors note that although the voluntary siting process has yet to identify an MRS host, the feasibility assessment grants have been successful in generating interest and active consideration and debate regarding MRS siting among States, Indian Tribes, and affected units of local government. Continued information efforts about the grant process and more proactive DOE support for and participation in the voluntary siting process are among the recommendations offered