Method for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies

Patent · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7173581

Weil, B S; Watson, C D

A method is disclosed for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the type wherein a plurality of long metal tubes packed with ceramic fuel are supported in a spaced apart relationship within an outer metal shell or shroud which provides structural support to the assembly. Spent nuclear fuel assemblies are first compacted in a stepwise manner between specially designed gag-compactors and then sheared into short segments amenable to chemical processing by shear blades contoured to mate with the compacted surface of the fuel assembly.

• Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 4056052
• Application Number: TRN: 78-011519
• OSTI ID: 7173581
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 29 Apr 1976; Other Information: PAT-APPL-681,648
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
MECHANICAL DECLADDING
EQUIPMENT
REPROCESSING
DECLADDING
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEAD END PROCESSES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing