System and method for minimizing movement of nuclear fuel racks during a seismic event

A system for storing nuclear fuel, the system comprising:

• a first storage rack;
• a second storage rack adjacent the first storage rack, wherein each storage rack includes an array of cells, each cell is configured to receive and store nuclear fuel rods, and each storage rack comprises:
• a base plate configured to support the array of cells of the respective storage rack;
• and
• a support structure configured to support the base plate of the respective storage rack and to allow cooling fluid to circulate under and up through apertures in the respective base plate;
• and
• a bearing pad coupled to the support structure of each of the storage racks, the bearing pad being configured to limit lateral movement of each storage rack independent from lateral movement of the bearing pad.

A method of placing a nuclear fuel storage rack into a storage pool, the method comprising:

• providing the storage rack comprising an array of cells, a base plate configured to support the array of cells, and a support structure configured to support the base plate, each cell of the array of cells being configured to receive and store nuclear fuel rods;
• placing a bearing pad on a bottom of a storage pool;
• and
• placing the storage rack into the storage pool so that the bearing pad is coupled to the support structure, wherein the bearing pad is configured to limit lateral movement of the storage rack independent from lateral movement of the bearing pad, wherein the base plate defines a base plate profile in a horizontal plane of the base plate, the bearing pad defines a bearing pad profile in the horizontal plane of the base plate, and wherein the bearing pad profile extends outside of the base plate profile.