Method for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorsBradley S. Weil, Clyde D. Watson
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the type wherein a plurality of long metal tubes packed with ceramic fuel are supported in a spaced apart relationship within an outer metal shell or shroud which provides structural support to the assembly. Spent nuclear fuel assemblies are first compacted in a stepwise manner between specially designed gag-compactors and then sheared into short segments amenable to chemical processing by shear blades contoured to mate with the compacted surface of the fuel assembly.
Claims5
A method for shearing elongated spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the shrouded tube-bundle type into short segments for subsequent dissolution of contained fuel values comprising:
- a. reducing the cross section of the fuel assembly by progressively pressing it between opposed movable and stationary gags defining a compression zone which progressively changes in cross section from that of the uncompressed fuel assembly to a cross section having a substantially reduced area relative to the cross section of the uncompressed fuel assembly which defines a non-planar contour for engagement by a shearing blade;
- said fuel assembly being advanced in a stepwise manner through said compression zone with said movable gag being periodically disengaged to permit such advancement and then engaged with said assembly in a compression stroke to compress said fuel assembly upon completion of said advancement;
- and
- b. shearing segments from the compressed end of said assembly by driving a shearing blade against said compressed end at a point immediately adjacent said compression zone while said movable gag is engaged with said assembly following completion of a compression stroke, said shearing blade having a non-planar shearing face contoured to match that portion of the contour of the compressed end of said fuel assembly which it engages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.