Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Handling of fission reactor component structure within... – Storage container systems for new and/or irradiated core...
Patent
1985-06-19
1987-12-01
Jordan, Charles T.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Handling of fission reactor component structure within...
Storage container systems for new and/or irradiated core...
G21C 1940, G21C 1906
Patent
active
047103426
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure which can be assembled and disassembled on a racking site for the storage of nuclear reactor fuel elements, of the type comprising juxtapositioning of vertical, parallelepipedic racks which are open at their ends.
Such storage rack systems are used for storing the maximum number of nuclear reactor fuel elements in a minimum of space. Conventionally, these elements are separately placed in metal racks arranged in a support chassis. The storage and relative proximity of the fuel elements must be such as to prevent them from reaching their criticality level, and for this reason there must be a minimum spacing between the individual racks.
This spacing is dependent on the type of fuel element stored, the protection offered by the racks and the ambient storage medium (dry or in a pool). The chassis must ensure this minimum spacing and must be sufficiently nondeformable and rigid to withstand the stresses due e.g. to earth tremors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The racking structures for the storage of nuclear reactor fuel elements according to the prior art generally comprise a network of metal beams or girders which are welded to the racks. For example, they comprise two systems of intersecting beams forming two grids into which the racks it. Two metal enclosures maintain the peripherally positioned racks in place. All the components of these structures are mainly welded. This type of construction is described in French Pat. Nos. 2,462,767 and 2,509,899 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,433.
However, these structures cause problems. If they are assembled in the workshop, their transportation to the site is difficult due to their large overall dimensions and weight. If they are assembled on site, welding takes a long time and is expensive, while making their final geometry more random due to thermal stresses. The quality of the welds is difficult to inspect on site. It is also difficult to dismantle the structure without seriously damaging it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a racking structure for the storage of nuclear reactor fuel elements of the type comprising a juxtapositioning of vertical parallelelepipedic racks which are open at their ends, making it possible to obviate the aforementioned difficulties and comprising: network, fixed to the base plate, the other assembled to the upper part of the racks, ensuring the vertical maintenace and transverse rigidity thereof by gripping in the meshes of each network, fixed to at least two sides of each rack level with each network, so as to cooperate with the bars in order to ensure the locking in vertical translation of each rack, racking structure against the corresponding bars, the lower network to the base plate being ensured by dismantlable fixing means.
According to a preferred embodiment of the assemblable and disassemblable storage racking structure according to the invention, each of the racks comprises a tube with four lateral faces, which are parallel to one another in pairs and which define two pairs of parallel faces, and wherein the networks are in each case constituted by two lines of parallel bars defining meshes in which the said racks it, one of the lines, called the upper line, resting on the first pair of strips fixed to a first pair of parallel faces, while the second or loewr line bears under a second pair of strips to the other pair of parallel faces, so that there is a certain clearance between the bars of the upper line and the bars of the lower line, dismantlable fixing means connecting each of the lines of the same network, so as to grip the strips between the corresponding bars and fix the racks in the said meshes.
Advantageously, the means making it possible to hold the racks located on the periphery of the structure incorporate securing means fixed to the two ends of the bars of each network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to non-limitative embodiments and the attached drawi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4024406 (1977-05-01), Bevilacqua
patent: 4042828 (1977-08-01), Rubinstein et al.
patent: 4124445 (1978-11-01), Mollon
patent: 4143276 (1979-03-01), Mollon
patent: 4187433 (1980-02-01), Zezza
patent: 4567015 (1986-01-01), Bosshard
Grenon Pierre
Helary Louis J.
Et.Lemer & Cie.
Jordan Charles T.
Wasil Daniel
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