Fuel assembly skeleton compaction
US4537711A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 5, 1983 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 5, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/041
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The fuel assembly skeleton compaction system provides a means for remotely dismantling an irradiated nuclear fuel assembly skeleton once the nuclear fuel rods have been removed therefrom while the skeleton remains submerged in a coolant. The system comprises a feed chamber for holding the spent fuel assembly skeleton and for feeding a spent fuel assembly skeleton into a shear chamber which is arranged near the feed chamber. The shear chamber contains a shearing device for shearing the skeleton into small pieces and for moving the pieces of the skeleton into a compaction chamber which is located adjacent to the shear chamber. The compaction chamber contains a compaction cylinder for compacting the pieces of the skeleton introduced thereinto. A storage canister is located below the compaction chamber such that when the slide of the compaction chamber is opened, the compacted pieces of the skeleton may be pushed into the storage canister. When the storage canister is filled, it may be remotely removed and replaced with an empty canister.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.