Spent fuel pool

Spent fuel pool is a type of storage pool used in nuclear power plants to store spent nuclear fuel. These pools are typically made of reinforced concrete and lined with stainless steel. They are filled with water, which acts as both a coolant and a radiation shield.

Design and function

Spent fuel pools are designed to hold spent nuclear fuel that has been removed from a nuclear reactor. The fuel is extremely hot and radioactive when it is first removed from the reactor, so it is placed in the pool to cool down and to shield workers and the environment from radiation. The water in the pool is continuously circulated and cooled to remove heat from the fuel.

The pools are typically about 40 feet deep, which provides enough water above the fuel to shield workers on the pool deck from radiation. The fuel is stored in racks at the bottom of the pool. The racks are designed to keep the fuel assemblies separate to prevent a nuclear reaction.

Safety concerns

There are several safety concerns associated with spent fuel pools. One is the possibility of a loss of coolant accident, in which the water in the pool is lost, exposing the fuel to the air. This could lead to a fire and the release of radioactive material. Another concern is the possibility of a criticality accident, in which the fuel assemblies come too close together and start a nuclear reaction.

To prevent these accidents, spent fuel pools are designed with multiple safety systems. These include systems to detect and respond to a loss of coolant, systems to monitor and control the position of the fuel assemblies, and systems to detect and respond to a criticality accident.

See also

• Nuclear power
• Nuclear reactor
• Spent nuclear fuel
• Nuclear safety

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