Method and apparatus for handling nuclear fuel elements

An improved method for transferring nuclear fuel elements between a fluid filled storage pool and a fuel transfer cask comprising the steps of:

• (a) Positioning at a first terminal location a transport having an aperture formed in a frame thereof and a cask tank vertically supported on said transport and extending through said aperture;
• (b) introducing and supporting a nuclear fuel element cask in said tank at said first terminal location and establishing a fluid sealed barrier between inner and outer surfaces of said cask;
• (c) advancing said transport in a horizontal direction to a second terminal location adjacent an overhead port of a nuclear fuel storage pool;
• (d) aligning said tank with respect to said port;
• (e) coupling said vertically orientated tank to said port and establishing a fluid sealed channel between said port and an interior of said cask;
• (f) flooding said sealed channel;
• (g) providing access between said fuel storage pool and the cask through said port;
• and,
• (h) transferring fuel elements between the said cask and said pool.

An improved method for transferring nuclear fuel elements between a fuel storage pool of a nuclear facility and a nuclear fuel transfer cask comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a wheeled transport means which travels on elevated tracks in a corridor between first and second terminal locations of a nuclear facility at a first terminal location, said transport means including a frame defining an aperture formed therein and a cask tank positioned vertically in and extending through said aperture and supported on said transport, said cask tank extending below said transport means;
• (b) lowering a nuclear fuel element cask into said tank at said first terminal location and establishing a fluid sealed barrier between inner and outer surfaces of said cask;
• (c) advancing said transport means, said vertically supported tank and said cask in a horizontal direction to a said second location adjacent an overhead port of said nuclear fuel storage pool;
• (d) unweighting said tank from said transport by vertically advancing said tank into engagement with said port and supporting said tank from beneath by a rigid structure;
• (e) establishing a fluid sealed channel between said port and an interior of said cask;
• (f) flooding the sealed channel;
• (g) actuating a port closure to an open position for establishing clear access through said port between said pool and said cask;
• and
• (h) transferring fuel elements between said cask and said pool.

An improved apparatus for transferring nuclear elements between a fluid storage pool and a fuel transfer cask comprising:

• (a) a transport means adapted for movement in a horizontal direction, said transport means having a frame and an aperture formed in said frame;
• (b) a tank means vertically supported on said transport means and extending through said aperture;
• (c) a nuclear fuel element cask having inner and outer surfaces supported in said tank means;
• (d) means establishing a fluid sealed barrier between inner and outer surface of said cask;
• (e) means for advancing said tank in a vertical direction toward an overhead port at a terminal location;
• (f) means for supporting said tank in engagement with said port;
• and,
• (g) means for establishing a fluid seal between said tank and said port.

An improved apparatus for transferring nuclear fuel elements between a fluid filled storage pool and a fuel transfer cask comprising:

• (a) a transport means adapted for movement in a horizontal direction, said transport means having an aperture formed in a frame thereof;
• (b) a tank means vertically supported on said transport and extending through said aperture;
• (c) a nuclear fuel element cask supported in said tank means;
• (d) means for establishing a fluid sealed barrier between an overhead port and said tank means at a terminal location;
• (e) means for aligning said tank with respect to said overhead port;
• and,
• (f) means for coupling said vertically orientated tank to said port and for establishing a fluid sealed channel between said port and an interior of said cask.