Dry cask storage
Dry Cask Storage
Dry cask storage (pronunciation: /draɪ kæsk stɔːrɪdʒ/) is a method used to store nuclear fuel that has already been used in a reactor but still needs to be stored in a safe manner due to its radioactivity.
Etymology
The term "dry cask storage" is derived from the method's use of a 'cask', a large, heavily shielded container, to store the used nuclear fuel. The 'dry' part of the term refers to the absence of liquid or coolant in the storage process, unlike in wet storage where the used fuel is stored in a pool of water.
Description
In dry cask storage, the used nuclear fuel is first cooled in a spent fuel pool. After several years, when the fuel has cooled enough, it is transferred to a cask made of metal or concrete. The cask is then sealed and stored on a concrete pad at a nuclear power plant site. This method of storage is considered safe and efficient, as it does not rely on active cooling systems or electricity.
Related Terms
- Spent fuel pool: A storage pool for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors.
- Nuclear power plant: A thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor.
- Radioactivity: The emission of ionizing radiation or particles caused by the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei.
- Nuclear fuel: Material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to power turbines.
- Wet storage: A method of storing spent nuclear fuel where the fuel is stored in a pool of water.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dry cask storage
- Wikipedia's article - Dry cask storage
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