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Highlights • A energy harvester using the gamma heating effect was conceptualized. • A energy harvester using the existing temperature within the canister was designed. • The thermal energy harvester can supply enough energy for the electronics for 50 years. Abstract Monitoring the conditions inside enclosed metal vessels as found in spent fuel canisters and nuclear reactor pressure vessels is crucial to ensuring safe dry cask storage and reactor operation. In this paper two energy harvesters, a gamma radiation energy harvester and a thermal energy harvester, are designed to power wireless through-wall communication and in-situ monitoring of interior conditions in nuclear canisters. Their performance over 50 years of service in the canister is analyzed using radiation and thermal modeling of the canister, and a scaled experiment is performed to validate the designs. The gamma radiation energy harvester was found to have an energy output of 17.8 mW during the first-year of canister storage. However, its power out decreases to less than 1.0 mW after 50-years storage. The thermal energy harvester proved to be more practical with a simulated power output of 93.9 mW and an experimental output of 46.3 mW even after 50-years storage in the canister. Cost-benefit analysis and discussion for both energy harvesters were also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed three-dimensional thermal and fluid analysis of a vertical dry storage cask with a canister containing 32 high-burnup pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent fuel assemblies for a storage of 50 years was carried out using a CFD simulation. The input decay heat value was calculated based on a Westinghouse 17 × 17 PWR fuel assembly using the well validated package ORIGAMI imbedded in SCALE, with a total heat load of 38.44 kW for year 5 and 10.67 kW for year 55. The temperature-dependent and anisotropic thermal properties of the fuel assemblies, filling gas within the canister, and air covering the canister were considered in order to preserve accuracy. A peak temperature of 621.4 K occurred in the upper part of the fuel assemblies for at year 5, deceasing to 423.0 K after 50-year service. The simulation results shed light on the temperature and flow environment within the canister for an operational time of 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]