# US 4,399,366 A · Separator assembly for use in spent nuclear fuel shipping cask

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- Number: US 4,399,366 A
- Document ID: US4399366A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/257,030
- Filed: 1981-04-24
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-04-24
- Inventors: James A. Bucholz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399366A

## CPC

- G21F 5/012: Fuel element racks in the containers
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)

## Abstract

A separator assembly for use in a spent nuclear fuel shipping cask has a honeycomb-type wall structure defining parallel cavities for holding nuclear fuel assemblies. Tubes formed of an effective neutron-absorbing material are embedded in the wall structure around each of the cavities and provide neutron flux traps when filled with water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for use in handling nuclear fuel, comprising;
a honeycomb-type wall structure defining a plurality of elongate, parallel cavities each shaped to receive a nuclear fuel assembly; and
a plurality of tubes extending through said wall structure and disposed around each of said cavities therein, said tubes being formed of an effective neutron-absorbing material and being filled with a moderator fluid so as to constitute neutron flux traps.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The separator assembly of claim 1 wherein said tubes are formed of a material containing boron.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The separator assembly of claim 2 wherein said wall structure is formed of an effective heat-conducting material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The separator assembly of claim 2 wherein said wall structure is formed of aluminum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The separator assembly of claim 2 wherein said wall structure is formed of copper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The separator assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of said tubes have a rectangular cross section and some of said tubes have a circular cross section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The separator assembly of claim 1 wherein said cavities are disposed in mutually perpendicular rows and columns, said rows and columns being either aligned or staggered with respect to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The separator assembly of claim 1 wherein said tubes are spaced apart from one another.