Fuel storage rack
AssigneeBrooks & Perkins, Incorporated
InventorLeslie Mollon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage rack for spent nuclear fuel elements comprising a multiplicity of elongated hollow containers of uniform cross-section, preferably square, some of said containers having laterally extending continuous flanges extending between adjacent containers and defining continuous elongated chambers therebetween for the reception of neutron absorbing panels.
Claims18
A storage rack for storing elongated radioactive nuclear fuel elements in upright shielded position comprising a plurality of elongated metal containers having longitudinally extended openings therethrough for receiving fuel elements, support means mounting said containers in parallel vertical relationship with at least some of said containers comprising pairs of adjacent spaced apart containers, the containers of each of said pairs including a longitudinally extending flange integral with one of said containers and extending laterally therefrom into close proximity and having the free edge thereof bonded to the other container to define with the adjacent side walls of the pair of containers a partially enclosed vertically extending space, and a separate flat neutron absorbing panel received in said space in position to intercept neutrons emitted from one container in a direction to enter the other container of said pair.
A storage rack for storing radioactive nuclear fuel elements in upright shielded relation comprising a multiplicity of elongated rectangular cross-section tubular containers open at the top, support means mounting said containers in vertical position with side walls of said containers in spaced apart parallel relation, and flange means integral with said containers and extending laterally therefrom for the full height thereof, as an extension of one side thereof across the space between adjacent containers to define with the adjacent side walls of adjacent containers a vertically elongated neutron absorbing panel receiving enclosure of a rectangular cross-section, said cross-section having a length equal to the width of a side wall of a container and a width equal to the spacing between confronting side walls of said containers.
An elongated container for association with a plurality of similar containers to form a fuel rack, said container comprising an elongated tubular element of generally square cross-section having a continuous through opening of generally square cross-section and an attachment and spacing flange at one corner of the container extending for the full length thereof and positioned generally to constitute an extension in the plane of one side wall thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.