Nuclear fuel storage apparatus for seismic areas
AssigneeCombustion Engineering, Inc.
InventorAndrew J. Anthony
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An earthquake resistant apparatus for storing nuclear fuel within a water-filled pool wherein a structural grid which supports the fuel is in turn supported by cables from an upper elevation. The grid is located below the water level and spaced from the walls of the pool an amount, preferably at least equal to the anticipated earthquake displacement. The grid is located below the water level a sufficient depth for radiation shielding during fuel handling and storage, and tension members are preferably ten times the design earthquake displacement. A horizontal baffle is located around the periphery of the pool at an elevation above the grid.
Claims9
An earthquake resistant apparatus for storing nuclear fuel comprising:
- an earth connected pool formed of watertight material;
- water within said pool and below the normal water level of said pool;
- a structural grid for supporting fuel, located within said pool, in spaced relation from the sides thereof;
- a plurality of earth connected support members;
- and universally flexible tension members, substantially vertically oriented, attached at the lower end to said structural grid, and at the upper end to said support members.
A nuclear fuel storage rack for suspension in a pool of water comprising:
- a plurality of suspended parallel horizontal support beams;
- end plates connecting the ends of adjacent support beams as the only connection between adjacent support beams;
- a plurality of elongated rectangular fuel storage boxes having externally extending upper flanges at the upper end;
- and said storage boxes located between said parallel support beams in nesting relationship, with the upper flanges resting on said support beams;
- wherein at least some of said end plates connecting the ends of adjacent beams are individually removable.
A method of assembling a nuclear fuel storage rack in a fuel storage pool comprising:
- suspending a plurality of horizontal and parallel support beams below the normal water level of said pool, connected by end plates at opposite ends;
- removing an end plate at one end of a pair of parallel beams;
- lowering a fuel storage box having an external support flange at the upper end and external spacers in the lower portion to an elevation where said support flange is above said beams and the spacer is below said beams;
- sliding the fuel storage box between said beams and resting the box on said beams by means of said flange;
- similarly lowering and sliding additional boxes into nesting relationship with the corresponding boxes;
- and replacing said end plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.