Apparatus, method and component for the loading of fuel pellets into a fuel rod

Apparatus for containing nuclear fuel material within a contaminated environment during the loading of nuclear fuel pellets into a fuel rod, the apparatus including a sealing unit provided between the contaminated environment and a non-contaminated environment, the sealing unit including a first seal and a second seal, the first seal being in the form of a disc and having a through aperture, the second seal being a resiliently deformable seal which opens about its middle when deformed, the second seal being provided closer to the contaminated environment than the first seal.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the fuel rod is introduced to a nuclear fuel pellet loading position along an axis, the sealing unit including an extendable part, the first and second seals being attached to the extendable part, the sealing unit having a first state and a second state, the sealing unit being in the second state for the loading of the nuclear fuel pellets into the fuel rod and moving towards the first state during at least a part of the transition of the fuel rod from the nuclear fuel pellet loading position to the fuel rod having been removed, the sealing unit having a greater extent along the axis in the second state than in the first.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first seal is in the form of a disc having a through aperture.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first seal aperture is extended in size during the transition from first to second state and/or the first seal aperture decreases in size during the transition from second to first state.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second seal is a resiliently deformable seal which opens about its middle when deformed, the diameter of the aperture is less than the diameter of the fuel rod in the first state.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the second seal aperture is extended in size during the transition from first to second state and/or introduction of the fuel rod to the nuclear fuel pellet loading position and/or decreases in size during the transition from second to first state and/or introduction of the fuel rod to the nuclear fuel pellet loading position.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the extendable part includes a portion which is bent to have a reduced extent along the axis in the first state and the extendable part includes a portion which straightens to give an increased extent along the axis in the second state.

A method of loading nuclear fuel pellets into a fuel rod, the method including introducing the fuel rod to a nuclear fuel pellet loading position along an axis, loading one or more nuclear fuel pellets into the fuel rod and removing the fuel rod from the nuclear fuel pellet loading position, a sealing unit being provided between a contaminated environment which includes the nuclear fuel pellets to be loaded into the fuel rod and a non-contaminated environment, the sealing unit including a first seal, a second seal and an extendable part, the first and second seals being attached to the extendable part, the sealing unit having a first state and a second state, the sealing unit being in the second state for the loading of the nuclear fuel pellets into the fuel rod and moving towards the first state during at least a part of the transition of the fuel rod from the nuclear fuel pellet loading position to the fuel rod having been removed, the sealing unit having a greater extent along the axis in the second state than in the first.

A method of loading nuclear fuel pellets into a fuel rod, the method including introducing the fuel rod to a nuclear fuel pellet loading position, loading one or more nuclear fuel pellets into the fuel rod and removing the fuel rod from the nuclear fuel pellet loading position, a sealing unit being provided between a contaminated environment which includes the nuclear fuel pellets to be loaded into the fuel rod and a non-contaminated environment, the sealing unit including a first seal and a second seal, the first seal being in the form of a disc and having a through aperture, the fuel rod extending at least into the first seal in the nuclear fuel pellet loading position, the second seal being a resiliently deformable seal which opens about its middle, the second seal being deformed with the fuel rod in the nuclear fuel pellet loading position, the second seal being provided closer to the contaminated environment than the first seal.

A component for use during the loading of nuclear fuel pellets into a fuel rod, the component including a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion, the external diameter of the second portion being less than the external diameter of the first portion, the external diameter of the second portion being less than the internal diameter of the fuel rod with which the component is to be used, the external diameter of the first portion corresponding to the external diameter of the fuel rod with which the component is to be used, the first and second portions having a common axis, which axis corresponds with the axis of the fuel rod with which the component is to be used, the component having a through bore centred on the axis of the component, the internal diameter of the through bore being less than the external diameter of the nuclear fuel pellets loaded through the component into the fuel rod in use.

A method of loading nuclear fuel pellets into a fuel rod the method including inserting a component into one end of the fuel rod, introducing the fuel rod and the component into a nuclear fuel pellet loading position, loading one or more nuclear fuel pellets into the fuel rod through the component and removing the component from the fuel rod, the component including a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion, the external diameter of the second portion being less than the external diameter of the first portion, the external diameter of the second portion being less than the internal diameter of the fuel rod, the external diameter of the first portion corresponding to the external diameter of the fuel rod, the component having a through bore, the internal diameter of the through bore being less than the external diameter of the nuclear fuel pellets loaded through the component into the fuel rod.