JPS63196894A - Spent-fuel rod arranging integrating system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Background of the Invention) The present invention generally applies to nuclear power facilities. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for consolidating spent fuel rods from spent fuel assemblies.

In nuclear reactors, fuel rods are typically held in a fuel assembly by a lattice structure that positions each fuel rod so that it is spaced apart from each other. After the fuel assemblies have been fully used within each reactor, they are removed from the reactor and typically stored in a fuel pool within the nuclear facility. The spent fuel assembly is /i5[resistant and emits alpha, beta, and magazine radiation, and therefore it generates decaying heat. The water in the fuel pool removes some decaying heat through free circulation.

The water within the fuel pool also provides shielding from radioactivity released by spent fuel assemblies within the pool.

Each of the spent fuel assemblies is positioned with sufficient [1] between them to eliminate hazards.

Fuel pools in existing nuclear facilities are typically
It was designed to store extinguished fuel for temporary storage only. The expectation was that a reprocessing facility would become operational and the spent fuel assemblies would be sent to such a facility. However, such equipment is not yet operational. Additionally, facilities for long-term storage of spent fuel assemblies on a large scale school basis currently do not exist. Accordingly, spent fuel assemblies are stored in the nuclear facility's fuel pool, and the available storage pool within the fuel pool is rapidly being consumed.

To provide additional storage space within their fuel pools, many nuclear facilities have installed, or are attempting to install, shelves within their fuel pools that allow the fuel assemblies to be closely stored. There is. These columns are
Typically, 1) a sheet of shielding material is provided between the i-registered fuel assemblies; The sheet of shielding material allows the fuel assemblies to be stored in close proximity to each other without becoming unsafe.

However, conventional fuel pool 41I generally have insufficient storage capacity to store the spent fuel assemblies and chips that would accumulate over the life of a nuclear facility.

Therefore, it is easy to efficiently, and therefore inexpensively, consolidate spent fuel from spent fuel assemblies and place it in dense packs for storage. A need exists for a system and method for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system for easily and efficiently consolidating spent fuel rods from a depleted fuel assembly and for arranging the rods in a densely packed condition. and methods to satisfy the need. The invention provides a consolidation container into which said spent fuel rods can be stuffed, an I11 consolidation container 343 and a frame capable of holding therein a fuel assembly, or preferably two fuel assemblies. ■ Solve problems related to knowledge systems and methods by providing a system that has the following. The system of the present invention includes a fuel rod transfer tool having a gripper assembly. The gripper assembly can grip and release the fuel rod while the tool can move the gripper assembly up and down.

The system also includes a plurality of indexing devices.

An indexing device guides the gripper assembly to a position above a preselected rod in the fuel assembly. From this position, the gripper assembly can grip the preselected rod, and the tool then extracts it from the fuel assembly. Another indexing device guides the gripper assembly to a position above a preselected location within the storage container. From this position, the gripper assembly releases the preselected rod into the preselected location. When the frame is configured to hold two fuel assemblies, the system employs one indexing device for each fuel assembly and an indexing device for the storage M container. is advantageous.

Preferably, the system allows the fuel rod to be inspected. The system may include television cameras and television-type surveillance equipment. The camera allows an operator to view an image of the preselected rod as it is withdrawn from the fuel assembly and inserted into the storage vessel.
It is positioned so that Q can be seen. 16 the fuel rod transfer tool is configured to enable the preselected rod to be inspected to determine whether the preselected rod has a coating defect; is possible. For example, the same fuel rod transfer tool allows the withdrawn rod to be fully accommodated therein, and also allows cooling water to be regulated so that the temperature of said rod is raised to a predetermined temperature. It can be configured to allow flow through the rod. Defective rods will release gases that may contain products of nuclear fission that may be present, and these can be examined. If a rod is released with a defect, it can be stored in a storage container for defective rods.

Spent fuel in the fuel assembly or fuel assemblies and the storage vessel can be cooled during consolidation operations by flowing water down through the fuel rods.

Surface contaminants washed away by the cooling water can be collected in a cavity below the fuel assembly or fuel assemblies and the storage vessel. The cooling water can preferably be filtered and/or purified by using the fuel pool filtration and purification system.

Advantageously, each indexing device is provided with a guide funnel, said guide funnel for said indexing device for said consolidation container preferably comprising a plurality of flexible fingers, said guide funnel for said indexing device for said consolidation container being preferably provided with a plurality of flexible fingers, said guide funnel for said indexing device for said consolidation container being preferably provided with a plurality of flexible fingers, said guide funnel for said indexing device for said consolidation container being preferably provided with a plurality of flexible fingers;
The ends of 1 define a circle with a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the fuel rod.

Further, the indexing device for the fuel assembly can be mounted on one pair of rails in a FPt first manner, and the indexing device δ for the consolidation container can be opened and moved on the other pair of rails. It is possible to have a mounting number on it. These pairs of rails may be slidably mounted on yet another pair of rails, the roughly other pair of rails being transverse to the former pair of rails. do.

The system includes: 1. for automatically moving the indexing device to a predetermined position upon receiving an appropriate input signal; It may also be equipped with a lJ61 system. The control system is configured to control the preselected rod from the consolidation container under various conditions, such as when the indexing device is in a predetermined position, when the preselected rod is removed from the fuel assembly, and when the preselected rod is removed from the fuel assembly. <1.
An indicator can be used to provide a display that allows perceptual sensing of various conditions.

In operation, the fuel assembly indexing device is aligned over a preselected rod in the fuel assembly, and the consolidation container indexing device aligns the fuel assembly indexing device over a preselected rod in the consolidation container. Aligned above the location. The tool is then aligned with the preselected rod and the gripper assembly is moved and guided by the fuel assembly indexing device downwardly to a position above the preselected rod. be done. From this position, the gripper assembly grips the preselected rod, which is then moved upwardly by the tool and withdrawn from the fuel assembly.

The tool is then aligned at a preselected location within the consolidation container. The gripper assembly is moved downwardly to a position above the preselected location while holding the preselected rod. lastly,
The preselected rod is released into the preselected location. The gripper assembly can then be raised and the process repeated, so that the rods are tightly packed within the consolidation container. By this method, the spent fuel rods in the spent fuel assembly can be consolidated into the cylinder and efficiently into the consolidation vessel.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a system 10 for consolidating spent fuel rods from spent fuel assemblies. The system 10 includes an operator and Ill m stage 1 12, a fuel free transfer tool 14, an indexing device 16, 18, and 2.
0 and a fuel sorting and integration station 22.

Each of these stations and devices will be discussed in further detail below.

The operator and control station 12 includes a platform 24 that connects to the fuel pool 2.
It is supported by a support (not shown) rising from the floor of 8, and is prevented from swinging by an edge 4430. Alternatively, the platform 24 may be cantilevered entirely by the rim 30 in any suitable manner towards the -L side of the pool.

An operator at the operator and control station 12 maneuvers the fuel rod transfer tool 14 to position it over various locations at the fuel consolidation station 22. The fuel consolidation station 22 rests on a floor 26 of a fuel pool 28.

The fuel rod transfer tool 14 is shown in enlarged size in FIG. 3 and is positioned and operated by a single operator.
It is configured to be controlled by one person.

The tool 14 has two hydraulically controlled pistons 32, 34 mounted in a cylinder 3G forming part of the tool. The piston 32 is connected to the tool 1
act to open and close the gripper assembly 38 within 4. Piston 32 is therefore referred to as a gripper piston. The piston 34 acts to move the gripper assembly 38 in one downward direction. Piston 34 is therefore referred to as a withdrawal piston.

The television camera 40 has an open circuit.
is part of the system and is located at the lower end of the tool 14, so that the operator can view the image of the fuel rod while it is being withdrawn or inserted by the tool 14. Can be visually observed on television monitoring equipment. Camera 40 is positioned to allow an operator to position tool 14 to a desired location, as discussed below. FIG. 3 shows the fuel rod 42
is shown partially withdrawn.

Retraction piston 34 is actuated to move gripper assembly 38 downwardly to a position above the rod.

With the gripper assembly 38 in such position, the gripper piston 32 is actuated to cause the gripper assembly 38 to hook onto or grip the rod. Next, the withdrawal piston 34
Gripper assembly 38, J3, and therefore the hooked rod, is actuated to move upwardly. When a hooked rod has been inserted and is to be released, the withdrawal piston 34 is actuated to move the gripper assembly 38 and said hooked rod downward, and the gripper piston 32 then releases the rod. It is activated as expected.

The cylinder 36 may have a transparent part, so that the operator can monitor the movement within the tool, for example the gripper piston 32 and the withdrawal piston 34'c, and By monitoring the height of the piston 32, the height inside the tool can be noted.

It is also advantageous that the lower part of the tool 14 is configured such that the rod (retracted to be completely withdrawn) can be completely accommodated therein. Additionally, tool 14 is preferably configured to allow cooling water to flow through the housed fuel rods and to allow the flow rate of the cooling water to be adjusted. Therefore, the rate of heat transfer from the fuel rod can be adjusted. This feature allows the temperature of the fuel rod to be raised to a predetermined temperature, thereby inducing gas generation from the fuel rod with defective coating. Therefore, the products of nuclear fission in the resulting gas can be detected. This operation is a so-called fuel rod suction method. This approach allows Operation 0 to inspect individual spent fuel rods for coating defects.

Preferably, the fully retracted rod is fully contained within the lower third of tool 14 and tool 1
The lower two-thirds of the fuel tank 4 is immersed in the fuel pool 28.

The fuel pool water between the rod and the operator in the operator and control station 12 provides a shield to the operator.

Furthermore, if the lower two-thirds of the tool 14 is over-immersed, the upper one-third of the tool 14 is preferably transparent, so that an operator can see inside the tool as described above. to monitor the location and movement of

Suitable fuel rod transfer tools for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,482,520, issued Nov. 13, 1984, and U.S. Patent Application erial NQ427,
No. 621, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 2 shows the indexing devices 16, 18. and 2
0 and the fuel consolidation station 22 are shown in more detail than in FIG. The fuel consolidation station 22 includes a frame 44 that holds fuel assemblies 46 and 48 and a consolidation container 50.

Fuel assemblies 4G and 48 and consolidation container 50
can be removed from the frame 44 by a fuel removal crane when necessary, and then a full fuel assembly and an empty consolidation vessel can be installed. The consolidation container 50 will be described during the discussion of FIGS. 4 and 5 below.

The bottom of the frame 44 rests on the floor 26 of the fuel pool 28, and the frame 44 is also provided with aiming pads and positioning restraints. An indexing system is attached to the top of frame 44.

The index system, as best shown in FIG. 2, includes the indexes am16, 18 . and 2o. The index system is
Additionally, a pair of rails or foundation passages 52 are depicted. The index device 1G.

18, and 20 are plates 54.56. and 58
, and these are attached so as to slide along the rails 52. The index device 1G
has a pair of rails or base passages 60 connected to plate 54, and an indexing head or platform 62 on rails 6o! It is movably mounted. Similarly, index device W11
8 has a pair of rails or base passageways G4 connected to the plate 56, and an indexing head or platform 66 is slidably mounted on the rails 64. Correspondingly, an indexing device? 720 has a pair of rails or base passages 68 connected to plate 58 and index head or platform 70 has a pair of rails or base passages 68 connected to plate 58 .
) is slidably attached. The rail 52 runs transversely to the rails 60, 64, and 68@guide funnels 72, 74. and 7G are secured to said platforms 62, 66, and 70, respectively, and aligned with openings formed in these platforms (but not shown in FIG. 2).

Plate 54.56. and 58 each have a rack mounted thereon, while platform 6
2.6B, and 70 each have a pinion rotatably mounted thereon. Each pinion meshes with its associated rack, thus driving its associated platform back and forth along its associated plate as it is rotated. This direction of movement is shown in FIG. 2 as the Y direction. For convenience, only the rack and pinion for the indexing device W118 are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, rack 18 is mounted on plate 56 and pinion 80 is rotatably seated and numbered on platform 66. plates 54, 56
．． and 58 along the fuel consolidation station 22 by a pinion mounted thereon to mesh with a rack 90 that is part of the indexing system and mounted on the frame 44. Driven in the lateral direction (X direction in Figure 2). Again, for convenience, pinion 9 for index 1fi18
2 is shown in FIG. Foundation passage and gear R
This configuration of 1 ft allows platforms 62, 66, and 10 to be moved in two orthogonal directions.

A plurality of rails 52 extend from the fuel assembly 4 in FIG.
6 and 48, thereby providing a space on each side of the fuel assembly in which index cards 16, 18, and 20 are stored when inactive. .

The plate 54 and platform 62 are positioned above the fuel assembly 46 so that the guide funnel allows the operator to move the tool 14 in order to align the tool 14 with a preselected rod in the fuel assembly. Grip assembly 38 can be guided to position over the preselected rod. Similarly, plate 56 and platform 66 are positioned such that guide funnel 74 can guide gripper assembly 38 of tool 14 onto the top of a preselected rod in fuel assembly 48. Ru. From any of these positions, the gripper assembly 3
8 can latch onto a preselected rod in the fuel assembly if the gripper piston 32 is actuated.

The plate 58 and platform 70 are adapted to be positioned above the consolidation vessel 50 so that when the tool 14 is aligned with the consolidation vessel 50 by the operator, the guide funnel 16 retains the rod. The gripper assembly 38, which may be placed in the container 50, is placed in position for guiding the gripper assembly 38, which may be placed in the container 50, to a position above the preselected position within the consolidation container 50.

In this position, tool 14 inserts the rod into the preselected position and gripper assembly 38 releases the rod into the preselected position.

Plate 54.56. and 58 and platform 62.6G, and 70 are electrical stepping
The plate and platform are positioned by a motor (not shown) which drives the pinion via each rod 106. 108. 110. 112. and 114. Alternatively, the plate and platform can be manually positioned. It may be determined.

As shown in FIG. 8, the gripper guide hole 3176 is right-handed and includes a plurality of flexible fingers. The lower end of the flexible finger 98 forms a circle, and one diameter of the circle is approximately equal to the diameter of the fuel rod.

The fingers 98 therefore guide the fuel rod as it is being lowered by the tool 14. When the gripper assembly 38 reaches the fingers 98, the gripper assembly 38 spreads out of the fingers so that the rod is bottomed out. After gripper assembly 38 is raised, fingers 98 return to their original configuration.

Preferably, the indexing devices 16.18. and 20
is an optical boroscope
copy) 100, 102. and 104 and associated lighting. The boroscopes 100, 102, and 104 are used by an operator to locate the Sonoki gripping assembly--fuel rod interface at 151.
It may be coupled to a television system with an open circuit for visualization purposes. (Conversely, a television camera 40 is secured to the tool 14 and allows the operator to view the gripper assembly-to-guide funnel interface.) As shown in FIG. As shown, the fuel consolidation station 22 further includes a plurality of storage containers 11G for storing defective fuel lots.

Fuel lots may have defects. This is because, for example, it is bent or deformed or it has coating defects.

Fuel rods determined to be defective are placed in consolidation vessel 5.
0 can be stored in one of the storage containers 116 instead. The operator can determine that the fuel rod is defective by visually observing it while it is being withdrawn from the fuel assembly, or by re-observing the results of the suction operation. It may be determined that the lot is defective.

The fuel consolidation station 22 is located at the 4.5. and 6
It is shown in more detail in the figure. A suitable fuel consolidating station is also shown in commonly owned pending U.S. Patent Application No. 5erial, filed in 1985 and assigned to Agent Alffi NQ 433093-2070, which discloses: It is incorporated herein for reference.

Section 4.5. and consolidation container 50 shown in Figure 6.
The box 150 includes a tall rectangular metal box 150.
is open at the top and is provided with a removable cover and lifting fittings. The bottom and each side of box 150 are connected to each other. The top of the box 150 includes a ramp 152 that is connected to the fuel [I
Helps properly position the rad within the box 150.

The dimensional geometry of the in-phase 150 is 21! Accurately reflects the technology of the spent fuel assembly, thereby allowing it to be easily seated within existing spent fuel storage rack systems. The bottom of the box, each in-phase side of the top of the fuel rod, and the cover are configured to allow water to flow through the box to convectively cool the fuel lots contained within the box. A hole is provided to allow for. FIG. 6 shows a plurality of holes 156 in the bottom 151 of the '1a 150.

The front wall 153 of the box 150 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves 154 formed therein, the longitudinal grooves 154 being defined by a plurality of generally vertically extending bars secured to the front wall 153. The longitudinal grooves 154 are employed to guide and hold the first row of rods in its proper position to ensure maximum packing density. The movable installation is sheet 158,
It is installed in the box 150 from above. This sheet 158 is attached to its inner side, ie on the side facing the fluted surface of said front wall 153, and has a number of elastic fingers 160 connected to the longitudinal grooves 154 and the grooves 162 set by the longitudinal grooves. placed in precise alignment. Name 16
0 are bent outwardly towards the fluted surface side so that they are bent outwardly towards the fluted surface side so that they
i162 or the fuel rod inserted between the vertical grooves 154. Each elastic finger 160 therefore constantly abuts said front wall or the inserted rod, thereby holding the inserted rod in place, and when an additional rod is inserted between said additional rods. guide to the desired position.

The fuel consolidation station 22 houses and supports a pressure pad handling system, which is guided by several intersecting headstocks and has a common structure, as seen in FIG. It has a jack-screw extension device 112 operated by a drive consisting of a stepper motor. Each extension @ 1
72 causes a spring-loaded pressure pad 164 to abut the movable mounting on the seat 158 through a frontage 174 in the back wall 176 of the box 150. By using a spring-loaded pressure pad,
The operator can maintain control over the force applied on the boxed fuel rod.

As each row of rods is installed, the pressure pads 16
4 are removed from each divider box to allow the installation of the next row of cards. The drive mechanism consisting of the common stepping motor is provided with a selectable manual &lJ till H position.

The fuel rods removed from the fuel assembly 48, 46 are transferred to the fuel rod transfer tool 14 and the indexing device ri2.
0 is positioned to be inserted into the container. As each rod in the first row is inserted, the resilient fingers 160 occupying the grooves 162 between the li number of longitudinal grooves 154 are deflected out of the passage. Said movable mounting is seat 158
is pushed back slightly by the just-inserted rod, which compresses the elastic element of the pressure pad, for example the spring 16. The elastic finger 160 rests in a state in which it is in contact with the vertical groove 154, and then rebounds outward and remains in a state in which it is in contact with the vertical groove 154. In preparation for the insertion of the tenth node of the next row, the movable mounting seat 158 is moved rearward (by the stepper motor or manual operating device). elastic finger 160
springs outward, thereby preventing any rods that tend to move out of alignment with their intended positions. As each successive row of rods is inserted, the movable mounting seat 158 is moved rearwardly until it abuts the back wall 11G of the box 150.

Since handling and insertion operations of the fuel [Irad] can result in significant release of radioactive surface contamination, each bottom cavity of the fuel consolidation station, i.e. two fuel assemblies The cavity below and the cavity below the consolidation vessel are provided with connections to the fuel pool water filtration system. As shown in FIG. 6, a cavity 168 is formed below consolidation vessel 50 and a fitting is connected to the fuel pool water filtration system by fitting 110. Water is drawn down continuously through the fuel in the two fuel assemblies and through the consolidation vessel and then filtered and/or purified to minimize increased contamination of the fuel pool. It is possible to

FIG. 7 shows the operator and control station 12 in more detail than in FIG. As mentioned above, platform 24 is supported by the fuel pool floor 26 and stabilized by the rim 30, or it may be supported entirely by the rim 130. The operator transfers the fuel [Kotto transfer tool 14
manually move it back and forth or sideways. Two pairs of rails are employed to enable such movement. A pair of rails or platform passages 200 allow 1y1 penetration of the tool 14, while a pair of rails or platform passages 202 permit lateral movement of the tool 14.

The frame 204 includes a plate 206, is attached to slide along the rail 200, and supports the rail 202 in the lateral direction of the rail 200. The control member 208 attached to the tool 14 is
It is supported on bushings that are slidably mounted on rails 202. A handle 210 is attached to control member 208 to allow an operator to maneuver plate 208 and therefore tool 14 along rail 202. The tool 14 has the same handle 21
By tightening the brake 212 provided at the tip end of 0 downwardly, it is possible to restrain it in a desired position.

When the brake 212, which is in the form of a threaded rod, is rotated, it engages the plate 20.
6 and thus holds said tool 14 in a fixed position.

The operator and control station 12 includes a television control monitor 214 and a fuel rod transfer tool control panel 21.
6 and an indexing device@control panel 218. Television type surveillance device 214 and television camera 40 and boroscope 100° 102 and 1
04 allows the operator to view the gripper assembly-guide funnel interface or the gripper assembly-fuel rod interface. The television type monitoring device 214t may be a split screen monitoring device, thereby allowing the operator to view both interfaces simultaneously.

The fuel rod transfer tool control panel 216 preferably includes a toggle switch configured for use by a gloved operator and that the operator (a) (b) the speed of movement of said gripper assembly, i.e. fast, slow or very slow; (C) the direction of movement of said gripper assembly, i.e. continuous or incremental. and (d) a gripping operation of the gripper assembly. The toggle switch is an associated switch in the hydraulic control system for the tool 14. IIJ lit
do.

The indexing device control panel 218 includes a keyboard-type actuator 220 that allows the operator to command each index Iff to the desired position and that allows the operator to control the position of the pressure pads. make it possible. Said indexing device! , IJ t
The ill panel 218 indicates whether (a) the indexer head is moved to the desired position, (b) the fuel rod is withdrawn from the fuel assembly, and (C) the fuel rod is inserted into the consolidator. and (d) a plurality of gauges providing information to the control port when the pressure pad is moved as desired. The index card r111all panel 218 is preferably provided with a visible bulletin board and a hard copy recording device so that the operator can see when the fuel rods are being transferred from the fuel assembly to the consolidation container. When moving, it is possible to maintain its path of movement. It is also advantageous for the indexing device control panel 218 to provide suppression and warnings as needed.

The rails 200 extend inwardly beyond the edging 30.

As a result, the said supervisor? 1! and υ control wave v! 12
14, 216. and 218, the operator and control station 12 has an extended position where fuel rod consolidation may occur and a retracted position where a fuel handling crane may access the fuel assembly and consolidation vessel. can be moved between.

The fuel handling crane, in addition to its other tasks, is used for the installation and removal of fuel assemblies and consolidation vessels. To facilitate this, the operator's chair 240 is removably mounted within the desk sun 12 in any suitable manner.

Complete fuel assembly and empty! I! Once a consolidation vessel is installed in the fuel consolidation vessel station, an operator can initiate fuel rod consolidation operations by using a board on the indexing device control panel. This allows an indexing device associated with the fuel rod to be commanded to a predetermined position where its guide funnel is aligned with a preselected mortar in the fuel assembly. At this time, the operation port can also command the indexing device linked to the consolidation container to a certain position using a keyboard on the indexing device control panel, and in this position, the guiding device are aligned at preselected positions within the consolidation container. The operator manually aligns the tool (by moving the tool along rails 202 and 200) with the guide funnel of the indexing device for the fuel assembly and therefore with the preselected rod. The gripper assembly is moved by the guide funnel to a position 1yIiia above the preselected rod.
fermented and guided. The gripper piston is actuated such that the gripper assembly grips or latches onto the preselected rod. Next, the preselected rondo is drawn. After the preselected rod is withdrawn, the operator again guides the indexing device for the consolidation container by sliding the tool 14 over the rails 202 and 200. funnel, and therefore manually align it to a pre-selected position. While it is being started to descend, the rod is guided by the guide funnel of the indexing device for the consolidation container. The gripper assembly is lowered and guided by the guide funnel 1 to a position above the preselected position. The preselected rod is inserted into the preselected position by lowering the gripper assembly by lowering the tool. Finally, the preselected rod is fully inserted into the preselected position.
released by the gripper assembly. The gripper assembly is raised in preparation for transfer of another fuel rod, which is initiated by the operator commanding the indexing device to a new position.

Although particular illustrated embodiments of the invention are herein described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments.

Various substitutions and modifications may be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, two fuel rod transfer tools may be employed, along with appropriate positioning and mutual restraints, to reduce the time required to complete consolidation operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spent fuel rod consolidation system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spent fuel rod consolidation system shown in FIG. 1, with parts cut away for clarity; 3 is a perspective view of a fuel rod transfer tool for use in a spent fuel rod consolidation system, with parts broken away for clarity; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a spent fuel rod consolidation system; Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the consolidation unit for the spent fuel rod consolidation system, with parts broken away for clarity; Figure 5 is a top plan view with parts cut away for clarity. There, 4th
FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the consolidation container shown in the figures; FIG. 6 is a top view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operator and control station for the spent fuel rod consolidation system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a guide funnel for an indexer head. 10... Spent fuel rod arrangement and integration system 12
...Station 14 for operators and 1IIJ n.
...Fuel rod transfer tool 16, 18.20...Indexing device 22...Fuel consolidation station 24...Platform 26...Floor 28...
Fuel boule 30...Edge member 32...Gripper piston 34...Retraction piston 36...Cylinder 38...Gripper assembly 40...TV camera 42...Fuel rod 44... flame
50... Organizing and integrating containers 54, 56.58...
・Plate 60...Rail 62...Platform 64...Foundation passage 66...Platform 68...Rail 70...Platform 72
．． 74.76... Guide funnel 78... Rack
80...Pinion 90...Rack
92... Binion 100, 102. 104...
Optical boroscope 106, 108. 110. 1
12. 114...Rod 116...Storage container
150...Box 151-0. Bottom 1
52... Slanted part 153... Front & J! 154...
Vertical groove 158... Sheet 160... Finger 1
62...Groove 164...Nin Kabad 1
7L...rM D
17G-1 Ma 5!200... Foundation passage
202...Rail 204...Frame
206... Plate 208... Control member
210... Handle 212... Brake 214... Television model number cover 216... Fuel rod transfer tool control panel 218...
・Cleaning δ of the indexing device and panel drawing (no change in content) ω→ O penalty @1 (b 滉) Procedure amendment May 29, 1985

Claims (33)

[Claims] (1) A system for sorting and consolidating spent fuel rods from consumed fuel assemblies, which includes a consolidation container that can store the fuel rods, and a consolidation container that can store the fuel assemblies and the consolidation container at the time of consolidation. a frame capable of holding and allowing removal of each of said fuel assembly and said consolidation container; and gripping body means for gripping and releasing a rod;
and having means for vertically moving the gripper means; and tool means for guiding the gripper means to a first position above a preselected rod in the fuel assembly. first indexing means, said first indexing means being capable of gripping said preselected rod when said gripping body means is positioned in said first position; , second indexing means for guiding the gripper means to a second position above a preselected location within the consolidation container, the gripper means being located in the second position; said second indexing means, said second indexing means being capable of inserting and releasing said gripped rod into said preselected location; . (2) Each of the first and second index means,
Claim 1 characterized in that it is provided with a funnel.
System described in section. (3) The second indexing head comprises a plurality of flexible fingers, the ends of which define a circle having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the fuel rod. The system according to item 2 of the scope. (4) the frame is capable of holding a second fuel assembly, the frame is capable of allowing removal of the second fuel assembly, and the frame is capable of retaining a second preselected fuel assembly in the second fuel assembly; further comprising third indexing means for guiding the gripper means to a third position above the rod;
2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the gripper means is in the third position, the gripper means is capable of gripping the second preselected rod. (5) further comprising means for inspecting the preselected rods.
System described in section. (6) said means for inspecting comprises means for visually inspecting said preselected rod while said preselected rod is being moved upwardly by said tool means; The system according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for determining whether the preselected rod has a coating defect. 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising storage means for holding at least one of the defective rods. 9. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for cooling the fuel rods in the fuel assembly and the fuel rods in the consolidation vessel. (10) The cooling means includes means for moving water downwardly through the fuel rods in the consolidation vessel and the fuel rods in the fuel assembly. System described in section. (11) The system according to claim 10, further comprising means for filtering the water. 12. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for removing surface contaminants from the fuel rod. (13) said frame and a portion of said tool means are immersed in a fuel storage pool, said fuel storage pool being in a fully retracted position for said preselected rod to be accessible to said operator; A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system has a water level sufficient to provide shielding. (14) the first indexing means includes a first indexing head and a first pair of rails;
An indexing head is slidably mounted on the first pair of rails, and the second indexing means includes a second indexing head and a second pair of rails, the second indexing head being slidably mounted on the first pair of rails, and the second indexing means including a second indexing head and a second pair of rails. a third pair of rails slidably mounted on the second pair of rails, the third pair of rails being slidably mounted on the first pair of rails;
and extending transversely to a second pair of rails, the first pair of rails being slidably mounted on the third pair of rails, and the second pair of rails being slidably mounted on the third pair of rails. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is slidably mounted on a rail. (15) The first index head is automatically moved to the first position when receiving a first input signal, and the second index head is automatically moved to the first position when a second input signal is received. 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising control means for automatically moving to the second position. (16) The control means includes a first indicating means for indicating when the first index head is in the first position, and a second indicating means for indicating when the second index head is in the second position. 16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising indicating means. (17) The control means includes third indicating means for indicating when the preselected rod is being withdrawn from the fuel assembly. The system described. (18) Claim 15, wherein the control means includes fourth indicating means for indicating when the preselected rod is inserted into the consolidation container. The system described. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein said control means includes means for displaying the position of said preselected rod within said consolidation container. (20) A method for consolidating spent fuel rods from a spent fuel assembly using a tool having a gripper assembly, the gripper assembly gripping and releasing the rods. aligning the tool with a preselected rod in the fuel assembly, the tool being capable of moving the gripper assembly in an up-and-down direction; moving the gripper assembly downwardly to a first position above a preselected rod; gripping the preselected rod with the gripper assembly; and gripping the preselected rod with the gripper assembly. upwardly moving said gripper assembly holding said tool with said tool; and consolidating said tool and said preselected rod after said preselected rod is withdrawn from said fuel assembly. aligning the gripper assembly holding the preselected rod with a preselected location within a container; and moving the gripper assembly holding the preselected rod downwardly to a second position above the preselected location. and inserting and releasing the preselected rod into the preselected location. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of: (21) monitoring the condition of the preselected rod while moving the gripper assembly upwardly. (22) The method further comprises the step of inspecting the preselected rod for coating defects after the preselected rod is removed from the fuel assembly. The method according to item 20. (23) The testing step includes increasing the temperature of the preselected rod to a predetermined temperature and determining whether gas generation occurs. The method according to item 22. (24) said testing step further comprises adjusting the temperature to which said preselected rod is raised by adjusting cooling water flowing through said preselected rod; 24. The method of claim 23, characterized in: 25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of storing the defective rod in a storage container. 26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of cooling the fuel rods of the fuel assembly and the fuel rods in the consolidation vessel. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said cooling step includes moving water downwardly through said fuel rod. (28) The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of filtering the water. (29) generating a first perceptible indication when the preselected rod is withdrawn from the fuel assembly and inserting the preselected rod into the consolidation vessel; 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of inventing a second perceptible indication when the second perceptible indication occurs. (30) The first moving step includes guiding the gripper assembly to the first position by a first indexing device. Method. (31) further comprising the step of automatically moving the first indexing device to a first predetermined position in response to a first command signal, when the first indexing device is at the first predetermined position; 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first indexing device is capable of guiding the gripper assembly to the first position. (32) The second moving step includes guiding the gripper assembly to the second position by a second indexing device. Method. (33) further comprising the step of automatically moving the second indexing device to a second predetermined position in response to a second command signal, when the second indexing device is at the second predetermined position; 33. The method of claim 32, wherein a second indexing device is capable of guiding the gripper assembly to the second position.