Self-latching reactivity-reducing device for use in on-site spent fuel assembly storage

Patent · Tue Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:7088156

Mueller, D E; Boyd, W A

This patent describes the combination of a fuel assembly having top and bottom nozzles with an array of fuel rods extending between the nozzles, and guide thimbles extending between and attached at their opposite upper and lower end portions to the nozzles, a reactivity-reducing device. It comprises: an elongated rod having leading and trailing ends and containing neutron absorbing material; means mounted at the leading end of the rod for self-latching with the lower end portion of the guide thimble; and means removable attached to the trailing end of the rod for closing the passage therethrough and rendering the self-latching means at the opposite leading end of the rod inaccessible by the independent tool from the trailing end of the rod such that the rod is non-removable installed in the guide thimble.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4917856; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-281148A; TRN: 90-025975
• OSTI ID: 7088156
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 8 Dec 1988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
FUEL RODS
FASTENERS
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
NOZZLES
DESIGN
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
REACTIVITY
REDUCTION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EQUIPMENT
FUEL ELEMENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
STORAGE
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage