Research Progress on Thermal Hydraulic Characteristics of Spent Fuel Pools: A Review

Chende Xu, Zhengguang Wang, Shuai Tang, Xiangyu Chi, Xixi Zhu, Yaru Li and Naihua Wang ()
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Chende Xu: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Power Safety Monitoring Technology and Equipment, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518031, China
Zhengguang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Power Safety Monitoring Technology and Equipment, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518031, China
Shuai Tang: Institute of Thermal Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, China
Xiangyu Chi: Institute of Thermal Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, China
Xixi Zhu: Institute of Thermal Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, China
Yaru Li: Institute of Thermal Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, China
Naihua Wang: Institute of Thermal Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250022, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: Nuclear power plants (NPPs) produce large amounts of spent fuel while generating electricity. After the spent fuel is taken out of the reactor core, it still has a high decay heat and needs to be cooled for years or even decades before it can be reprocessed or buried deeply. Due to the long storage period of spent fuel, storage safety evaluation is a concern. In this regard, cooling systems are critical for the safe storage of spent fuel. Here, the research progress of cooling methods for spent fuel pools (SFPs) is reviewed, and the structural characteristics, application limitations and heat transfer performance of active and passive cooling technologies under accident conditions are discussed in detail. Moreover, future developments of SFPs are discussed, and the results of this review confirm that there is a great deal of research scope to improve the cooling performance and safety of spent fuel. This paper aims to provide a reference guide for engineers and will be highly beneficial to researchers engaged in spent fuel storage.

Keywords: spent fuel pool; thermal hydraulic characteristics; loss-of-coolant accident; passive cooling system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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