Container and system for handling damaged nuclear fuel, and method of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10692617-B2
Application number	US-201715689571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2017
Priority date	Aug 19, 2011
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A container and system for handling damaged nuclear fuel, and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the invention is a damaged fuel container having a specially designed top cap that can be detachably coupled to the elongated tubular wall by simply translating the top cap into proper position within the elongated tubular wall, wherein biased locking elements automatically lock the top cap to the elongated tubular wall. In another embodiment, the vent screens of the damaged fuel container are integrally formed rather than being separate components. In still other embodiments, the lower vent screens are arranged on an upstanding portion of the damaged fuel container. In an even further embodiment, the elongated tubular wall is formed by an extrusion process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming an elongated tubular container for receiving damaged nuclear fuel, the method comprising:
a) extruding, from a material comprising a metal and a neutron absorber, an elongated tubular wall having a container cavity;
b) forming, from a material comprising a metal that is metallurgically compatible with the metal of the elongated tubular wall, a bottom cap comprising a first screen having a plurality of openings; and
c) autogeneously welding the bottom cap to a bottom end of the elongated tubular wall, the plurality of openings of the first screen forming vent passageways to a bottom of the container cavity;
wherein after the extruding step, a further step of expanding a portion of the transverse cross-section of the container cavity along a top portion of the elongated tubular wall.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein step b) further comprises:
b-1) casting a body of the bottom cap; and
b-2) integrally forming the plurality of openings into the body of the bottom cap to form the first screen.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of openings are integrally formed by laser cutting the plurality of openings into the body of the bottom cap.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the elongated tubular wall is formed of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement is a boron carbide aluminum matrix composite material.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the bottom cap is formed of aluminum.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein step c) further comprises:
c-1) butt welding the bottom cap to the bottom end of the elongated tubular wall to produce a weld junction that is smooth with an outer surface of the elongated tubular wall.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the container cavity of the elongated tubular wall resulting from step a) has a substantially constant transverse cross-section below the expanded top portion of the elongated tubular wall.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the expanded portion of the transverse cross-section of the container cavity tapers moving away from a top edge of the elongated tubular wall.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
d) forming a top cap having a second screen comprising a plurality of openings; and
e) detachably coupling the top cap to the elongated tubular wall, the plurality of openings of the first cap forming vent passageways into a top of the container cavity.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein step e comprises:
e-1) sliding the top cap into an open top end of the container cavity, wherein locking elements of the top cap that are normally biased into an extended state are forced into a retracted state due to contact with the elongated tubular wall during said sliding; and
e-2) upon the locking elements of the top cap becoming aligned with locking apertures of the elongated tubular container, the locking elements automatically returning to the extended state such that the locking elements protrude into the locking apertures.

12. A method of forming an elongated tubular container for receiving damaged nuclear fuel, the method comprising:
a) extruding, from a material comprising a metal and a neutron absorber, an elongated tubular wall having a container cavity;
b) forming, from a material comprising a metal that is metallurgically compatible with the metal of the elongated tubular wall, a bottom cap comprising a first screen having a plurality of openings;
c) autogeneously welding the bottom cap to a bottom end of the elongated tubular wall, the plurality of openings of the first screen forming vent passageways to a bottom of the container cavity;
d) forming a top cap having a second screen comprising a plurality of openings;
e) detachably coupling the top cap to the elongated tubular wall, the plurality of openings of the first cap forming vent passageways into a top of the container cavity;
e-1) sliding the top cap into an open top end of the container cavity, wherein locking elements of the top cap that are normally biased into an extended state are forced into a retracted state due to contact with the elongated tubular wall during said sliding; and
e-2) upon the locking elements of the top cap becoming aligned with locking apertures of the elongated tubular container, the locking elements automatically returning to the extended state such that the locking elements protrude into the locking apertures.

Assignees

• Holtec International

Inventors

• Singh Krishna P

Classifications

• G21C19/26

  Arrangements for removing jammed or damaged fuel elements or control elements; Arrangements for moving broken parts thereof · CPC title

• B23K2103/172

  wherein at least one of the layers is non-metallic · CPC title

• G21F5/008 Primary

  Containers for fuel elements · CPC title

• G21F5/012

  Fuel element racks in the containers · CPC title

• B23K2101/12

  Vessels · CPC title