Method and system for manufacturing storage container for storing nuclear fuel

• US 6,785,355 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oyster International N.V.
• Original Assignee: Oyster International N.V.
• Inventors: Georgii, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/257,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 376/261, 376/272, 220/645, 220/646, 220/653, 220/654, 264/228, 264/229, 264/231, 264/232, 264/239, 250/506.1, 250/507.1, 250/515, 250/518, 250/522, 250/526, 588/3, 588/16
• US Class Current: 376/272
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 23/00 Arrangements specially adapted for the production of shaped articles with elements wholly or partly embedded in the moulding material; Production of reinforced objectsB28B21/00 takes precedence; in units for prefabricated buildings B28B7/22
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/008 Containers for fuel elements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/10 Heat-removal systems, e.g. using circulating fluid or cooling fins
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/36 by packaging; by baling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A method for storing nuclear fuel in a container (10) including a concrete body and a fuel receiver embedded in the concrete body, comprises the steps of: providing formwork (62) for the concrete body and supporting the fuel receiver within the formwork; placing the formwork in an immersed position in a pool (54) containing a body of water; placing concrete in the immersed formwork (62); and removing the formwork with the concrete body cast therein from the pool (52). A system for manufacturing a storage container (10) for use in the method comprises: a water pool (52) of a depth at least equal to the height of the storage container (10) to be manufactured; facilities for assembling concrete formwork (62) for the concrete body (12) of the storage container (10); facilities for moving the formwork and the fuel receiver to the water pool (52); facilities for placing concrete in the formwork (62) with the formwork immersed in water in the water pool (52); and facilities for removing the formwork (62) and the concrete body (12) therein from the water pool (52).

Claims

1. A method for storing nuclear fuel in a storage container including a concrete body and a fuel receiver embedded in the concrete body, comprising the steps of

introducing the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver,

providing formwork for the concrete body and mounting the fuel receiver within the formwork,

placing the formwork in an immersed position in a pool containing a body of water,

placing concrete in the immersed formwork to form the concrete body after said mounting of the fuel receiver within the framework step and after said introducing of the nuclear fuel in the fuel receiver step, and

removing the formwork with the concrete body formed therein from the pool.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel is introduced into the fuel receiver after the formwork has been placed in the immersed position in the pool.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which the fuel is transferred to the fuel receiver from an underwater position in an adjacent pool or pool section.

4. A method according to claim 2 in which subsequent to introduction of the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver and sealing of the fuel receiver the formwork is transferred while in an immersed position to an adjacent pool or pool section in which placement of the concrete in the formwork is effected.

5. A method according to claim 3, in which the nuclear fuel is placed in the adjacent pool or pool section while accommodated in a shipping container and in which the shipping container is placed in an immersed position in that pool or pool section.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which the fuel is introduced into the fuel receiver before the fuel receiver is introduced into the formwork and in which the fuel receiver with the fuel introduced into it is placed in the formwork after the formwork has been placed in the immersed position in the pool.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the fuel receiver with the fuel introduced into it is transferred while in an immersed position from a pool or pool section containing a body of water to the immersed formwork.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the fuel receiver is jointlessly embedded in the concrete.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the concrete body is cast in the shape of a substantially straight upstanding cylinder.

10. A method according to claim 9 in which the concrete body is formed with a central, axially through passage and the fuel receiver is provided in the concrete body as a number of individually sealable receiver sections distributed about the central passage and in which the nuclear fuel is distributed to the receiver sections during its introduction into the fuel receiver.

11. A method according to claim 1 in which the formwork is assembled as permanent formwork from at least the following components:

a lower end cover, an upper end cover and a cylindrical outer wall which is joined with the end covers, and in which a reinforcement is mounted in the form work and anchored in the end covers.

12. A method according to claim 11 in which the reinforcement is provided as two groups of reinforcing members which extend helically along two imaginary cylindrical surfaces inwardly of and close to the inner side of the outer formwork wall, the reinforcing members of each group being uniformly spaced apart circumferentially and are of the same hand, whereas the hand of the reinforcing members of the other group is opposite to the hand of the reinforcement members of the first group.

13. A method according to claim 1 in which the concrete is placed in the formwork through at least one vertical placing tube the mouth of which is positioned adjacent the lowest part of the formwork cavity when the placing commences and raised as the placing proceeds, such that it is constantly slightly below the surface of the placed concrete.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which the reinforcing members are stressed at least to some degree after the concrete has hardened partially but not completely.

15. A method according to claim 1 in which the formwork is assembled and provided with the fuel receiver outside the pool in which the nuclear fuel is introduced into the fuel receiver.