Abstract

Containers of radioactive material are placed in a well, so that the subterranean well lining absorbs much of the radiation from the containers. The heat generated by the radioactive material is transferred through the wall of the container through the wall of a vertically disposed heat tube having a cavity containing both water and water vapor, through the metal wick on the internal wall, and to the liquid water. The thus generated water vapor and/or steam flows upwardly within the cavity of the heat tube into the heat dissipation zone, which is cooled by atmospheric air. Such cooling condenses the steam to liquid water which flows downwardly to the heat absorption zone. The walls of the heat tube have such a low corrosion rate that reliable performance after weathering for many decades is assured.Some water may be radiolytically decomposed by the radiations from the radioactive material. Canisters of water synthesis catalyst are positioned in the vapor space of the heat tube to recombine the hydrogen and oxygen generated by such radiolytic decomposition of water. The system achieves a maintenance-free arrangement for heat dissipation during a period of decades until the heat generation is low enough to permit cheaper storage, such as in a cavern having subterranean surfaces able to dissipate heat at a rate greater than the radioactive material then generates heat.