Stackable nuclear fuel storage element and storage module formed by a stack of such elements
AssigneeCommissariat a l'Energie Atomique
InventorsVirgine Bontemps, Jean-Claude Argoud
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Abstract
A storage element for the storage of cases (16) full of nuclear fuel in the horizontal position, said element comprising ventilation means (19, 32) arranged on the sides of the element, so that storage stacks according to this invention can be created. The storage elements may have a cross-section in the shape of regular hexagon to optimise the storage density.
Claims20
Element for the storage of nuclear fuel comprising:
- at least one housing with a longitudinal axis intended to be horizontal to hold a case full of nuclear fuel,
- first and second longitudinal ends provided with passages to access the housing, said passages being closed and sealed by removable plugs,
- ventilation means comprising a cooling channel surrounding the housing and insulated from said housing in a sealed manner, and ventilation ports made in the first and second faces of the element and opening up in said cooling channel.
Element according to the previous claim comprising seven housings.
Element according to the previous claim, comprising two housings.
Element according to the previous claim, comprising one housing.
Element according to the previous claim, wherein the first tube is held suspended in the second tube by means of end plates fixed to the longitudinal ends of the first and second tubes, and in which ventilation ports are formed, said end plates receiving the plugs and forming the longitudinal faces of the element.
Element according to the previous claim, wherein the plugs are welded on the end plates.
Element according to the previous claim, wherein the control means comprise means of injecting helium and detecting helium.
Module for horizontal storage of nuclear fuel in cases, comprising a stack of elements, each element comprising at least:
- one housing with a longitudinal axis intended to be horizontal to hold a case full of nuclear fuel,
- first and second longitudinal ends provided with passages to access the housing, said passages being closed and sealed by movable plugs,
- ventilation means comprising a cooling channel surrounding the housing and insulated from said housing in a sealed manner, and ventilation ports made in the first and second faces of the element and opening up in said cooling channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.