Nuclear fuel storage rack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9437332-B2
Application number	US-201113812773-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2011
Priority date	Feb 4, 2011
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

In a nuclear fuel storage rack including a plurality of rack cells ( 1 ) configured to house a nuclear fuel assembly, the rack cell ( 1 ) includes a plurality of plate members ( 10 to 13 ) containing a radiation absorption material and stood to form a nuclear fuel housing space ( 8 ) configured to house the nuclear fuel assembly, and a fastening unit ( 14 ) configured to fasten the plurality of plate members ( 10 to 13 ). Each of the plate members ( 10 to 13 ) includes projections ( 16 ) protruding outward in a lateral direction from one side end and the other side end extending in an upward/downward direction (T 1 ), and concave sections ( 17 ) formed at one side end side and the other side by the projections ( 16 ). The projections ( 16 ) protruding outward from outer surfaces of the plate members ( 10 to 13 ) in the lateral direction are fastened by the fastening unit ( 14 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nuclear fuel storage rack comprising a plurality of rack cells configured to house a nuclear fuel assembly,
wherein the rack cell comprises a plurality of plate members each of which having a thickness, the plurality of plate members contain a radiation absorption material and form a nuclear fuel housing space configured to house the nuclear fuel assembly, and a fastening mechanism configured to fasten the plurality of plate members,
each of the plate members comprises projections protruding outward in a lateral direction from one side end and the other side end, and concave sections formed at the one side end and the other side end by the projections, the one side end and the other side end of the plate members extend in an upward and downward direction,
a tip end of the projections and a bottom part of the concave sections are separated with a distance greater than the thickness of the plate members,
in a state in which the projections and the concave sections of the plate members which are adjacent to each other are engaged to assemble the plurality of plate members, the projections protruding outward from the outer surfaces of the plate members in the lateral direction, and
the fastening mechanism fastens the projections protruding outward from the outer surfaces of the plate members in the lateral direction with each other,
wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a plurality of lash metal jigs and fasteners,
wherein each of the lash metal jigs comprises:
a first lash plate having a rectangular plate shape, the first lash plate having a first end and a second end;
a second lash plate having a rectangular plate shape, the second lash plate having a first end and a second end;
a third lash plate having a rectangular plate shape, the third lash plate having a first end and a second end;
a fourth lash plate having a rectangular plate shape, the fourth lash plate having a first end and a second end;
a first hinge connecting the first end of the first lash plate and the second end of the second lash plate about a first pivot shaft extending in the upward and downward direction;
a second hinge connecting the first end of the second lash plate and the second end of the third lash plate about a second pivot shaft extending in the upward and downward direction;
a third hinge connecting the first end of the third lash plate and the second end of the fourth lash plate about a third pivot shaft extending in the upward and downward direction,
wherein slits are formed in the projections of the plate members,
wherein the first lash plate, the second lash plate, the third lash plate, and the fourth lash plate are fitted to the slits of the projections of the plurality of plate members,
wherein each of the fasteners connects the second end of the first lash plate and the first end of the fourth lash plate and fastens the projections,
wherein the first lash plate and the third lash plate are disposed at a same height position in the upward and downward direction,
wherein the second lash plate and the fourth lash plate are disposed at a same height position in the upward and downward direction, and
wherein the second lash plate and the fourth lash plate are disposed at a position higher than the first lash plate and the third lash plate.

2. The nuclear fuel storage rack according to claim 1 , further comprising a rack body having a plurality of cell insertion holes formed by assembling a plurality of plate members in a lattice shape and longitudinally and laterally arranged in a horizontal direction, and
wherein the rack cell is inserted and housed in the cell insertion hole of the rack body.

3. The nuclear fuel storage rack according to claim 1 , wherein the rack cells are longitudinally and laterally arranged in the horizontal direction, and the projections of the rack cells which are adjacent to each other are connected.

Assignees

• Nakamura Masaaki
• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nakamura Masaaki

Classifications

• G21F9/36

  by packaging; by baling · CPC title

• G21C19/07 Primary

  Storage racks; Storage pools · CPC title

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title