Storage rack assembly for storing nuclear fuel elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage rack assembly (1) for storing nuclear fuel elements, which comprises at least two storage racks (1<I-IV>) respectively comprising a plurality of channels which are mutually vertically arranged in parallel and used for holding the fuel elements. The storage rack assembly (1) additionally comprises one or a plurality of base plates (20, 20<I-IV>), the corresponding storage racks which are mutually arranged in parallel are connected to a public base plate, and the base plates are capable of moving on a floor (24) of a storage pool.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a storage rack assembly for storing nuclear fuel elements according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention. Background technique [0002] Nuclear fuel elements, especially burnt-out nuclear fuel elements, are stored in storage pools filled with a coolant such as water, which at the same time acts as a shield against radiation of the fuel elements. The spent nuclear fuel elements remain in the storage pool until they are reprocessed or sent to their final storage, as the case may be. For the safe storage of nuclear fuel elements, storage racks have been developed with storage pools capable of receiving several storage racks, which can be arranged one behind the other and in some cases also one above the other. [0003] In US4042828 a storage rack is described for storing nuclear fuel elements in a storage pool. The storage rack contains a plurality of vertical shrouds aligned in rows and forming channels for receiving fue...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0009] One disadvantage: earthquake-induced storage rack displacement requires a certain free zone around the storage rack

This equates to a loss of storage space and is very expensive

[0010] Another disadvantage is that these displacements lead to the formation of irregular gaps of different sizes between the storage racks, which, after an earthquake, may create an irregular arrangement of the storage racks, causing problems in the subsequent handling of the stored fuel elements

[0011] Another disadvantage comes from the fact that partly loaded storage racks, especially ones loaded on one side, are stimulated to oscillate at large horizontal seismic accelerations, the feet of the storage racks can be about 10-20 mm away from the storage pool, for example

This swinging of the storage rack results in a very high impact force on the floor of the storage pool which significantly increases the risk of leakage of the storage pool

Moreover, a tendency has been observed for storage rack displacement to increase in the direction of the unloaded side, which additionally reduces the stability of the storage rack

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