RECYCLED FUEL ASSEMBLY STORAGE BASKET AND RECYCLED FUEL ASSEMBLY STORAGE CONTAINER

• US 20110122985A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tamaki, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 376/272
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/07 Storage racks; Storage pools
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/008 Containers for fuel elements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/012 Fuel element racks in the containers
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/36 by packaging; by baling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A plurality of first plate members 10 is stacked with long side ends 10LT1 and 10LT2 thereof abutting to each other. Plate member joint bodies 100 are formed by attaching connecting members 30 to side surfaces 10S of the stacked first plate members 10, and connecting the first plate members 10. Further, the plate member joint bodies 100 are so disposed to face each other, and the connecting members 30 projecting from the side surfaces 10S of the first plate members 10 are inserted into recesses formed at both long side ends of second plate members 20. A recycled fuel assembly storage basket 1 is thus formed. Recycled fuel assemblies are stored in spaces surrounded by the first plate members 10 and the second plate members 20.

Claims

1. A recycled fuel assembly storage basket comprising:

a plurality of first plate members being stacked with long side ends thereof abutting to each other;

a plurality of connecting members extended in a direction towards which the first plate members are stacked, attached to a side surface of each of the first plate members being stacked, connecting the first plate members, and projecting from the side surface;

a plurality of second plate members both of whose long side ends have recesses into which the connecting members are fitted; and

a recycled fuel assembly stored in a space surrounded by the first plate members and the second plate members.

2. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein each of the first plate members and the second plate members has a through hole penetrating in a longitudinal direction.

3. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of each of the connecting members perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a trapezoid, and an upper base of the cross-section comes into contact with the side surface of each of the first plate members.

4. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 3, wherein a cross-section of each of the recesses in the second plate members perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a trapezoid, and an upper base side of the cross-section comes into contact with the side surface of each of the first plate members.

5. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein the second plate members and the connecting members are made of different materials.

6. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members are divided at different positions in the direction towards which the first plate members are stacked.

7. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members are attached to the first plate members by a fastening member.

8. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 7, wherein a long hole is provided at a side of each of the connecting members, and the fastening member penetrates through the long hole.

9. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 7, further comprising a load supporting unit that supports a load of the second plate members between the fastening member and the connecting member, and between the fastening member and the first plate members.

10. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 9, further comprising a rotation suppressing member that suppresses rotation of the load supporting unit at least one of between the load supporting unit and the first plate members, and between the load supporting unit and the second plate members.

11. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 5, further comprising a reinforcement member made of a material having higher stiffness than that of the first plate members inside the through hole of the first plate members, the reinforcement member being connected with the fastening member.

12. The recycled fuel assembly storage basket according to claim 1, wherein

a groove extending in the direction towards which the first plate members are stacked is formed on the side surface of each of the first plate members, and

the connecting member is fitted into the groove.

13. A recycled fuel assembly storage container comprising:

a trunk having an opening portion and a cavity;

a lid attached to the opening portion and sealing the cavity; and

the recycled fuel assembly storage basket of claim 1 which is disposed in the cavity.

14. A method for manufacturing a recycled fuel assembly storage basket comprising:

stacking a plurality of first plate members with long side ends thereof abutting to each other;

forming a plurality of plate member joint bodies by connecting the first plate members with connecting members attached to a side surface of each of the first plate members and projecting from the side surface;

disposing side surfaces of the plate member joint bodies so as to face each other, and placing the connecting members opposite from each other; and

inserting the connecting members placed opposite from each other into recesses formed at both long side ends of a second plate member.