Method for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:862953

Weil, Bradley S ^[1]; Watson, Clyde D ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Knoxville, TN

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.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4056052
• OSTI ID: 862953
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/100/72/83/376/976/
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