storage pool

nuclear reactor component

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A storage pool, also known as a spent-fuel cooling pool, is a crucial component of a nuclear reactor facility. These pools are filled with water containing boric acid, which absorbs neutrons to prevent the spent fuel from becoming critical.1

After fuel assemblies are removed from the reactor, they are highly radioactive and generate heat. The water in the storage pool serves to shield workers and cool the spent fuel. As pools fill up, additional storage solutions include denser packing of fuel, building new pools, or transferring older fuel to aboveground storage casks. This cooling process is essential before the fuel can be reprocessed or permanently disposed of.123

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nuclear reactor
Fueling and refueling LWRs
…removed fuel stored in the storage pool not only is highly radioactive but also continues to produce energy (referred to as decay heat). This energy is removed by natural circulation of the water in the storage pool. During the 1960s, when the nuclear industry was in its early stage, it…
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…removed fuel stored in the storage pool not only is highly radioactive but also continues to produce energy (referred to as decay heat). This energy is removed by natural circulation of the water in the storage pool. During the 1960s, when the nuclear industry was in its early stage, it…
Read More