Container for transporting and storing nuclear reactor fuel elements

US4567014A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Wiederaufarbeitung von Kernbrennstoffen mbH · DE

Inventors

• Franz Popp · Großburgwedel, DE
• Kurt Feuring · Solms, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 22, 1982
• Grant date: Jan 28, 1986
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G21F5/12
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention is directed to a container for transporting and/or storing irradiated nuclear fuel elements. The container includes a holding vessel made of cast iron containing nodular graphite and having an opening at one of its ends for receiving the materials to be stored therein and a cover for sealing the opening so as to be gas-tight with respect to the ambient. In order to weld a cover to the vessel without the necessity of conducting a follow-up heat treatment operation, an end ring made of cold-weldable material is mounted on the vessel at its opening. The end ring includes a connecting extension which is fused with the vessel when the latter is made by casting. After the vessel is filled, a cover made of a material having a structure similar to that of the end ring can be welded to the latter. In this way, a subsequent heat treatment of the vessel which would otherwise be necessary is avoided. The vessel and end ring can be viewed as being the vessel assembly and a method of making this assembly is also disclosed.