RU2543058C2 - Container for transportation of fuel assemblies of nuclear reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: power industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to transportation packaging devices used in nuclear-power engineering for temporary storage and transportation of new fuel assemblies (FA) from a manufacturer to a user at nuclear power plants. A container is intended for transportation of two SQUARE-FUEL ASSEMBLIES for a PWR reactor and includes a detachable rectangular housing consisting of a base and a cover plate and containing a platform. The platform is attached in an articulated manner to the base on one of its end faces so that it can be installed at an angle to a horizontal plane. The platform includes elements fixing fuel assemblies (FA) on it, which are made in the form of extended lodgments of a V-shape with the corresponding cover plates that are attached to the platform. Frames corresponding as to the shape of the cover plate of the lodgment in a cross section are fixed above each of the lodgments and discretely located along them. The lodgment cover plate is arranged under the frame and attached to the frame with a possibility of adjustment of a distance between the lodgment and the lodgment cover plate.

EFFECT: possibility of attachment of fuel assemblies of different standard sizes.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of transport packaging devices used in nuclear energy for transportation, as well as temporary storage of “fresh” fuel assemblies (FA) from the manufacturer to the consumer at nuclear plants, and is, in particular, a transport packaging set - TUK for transportation of two fuel assemblies-SQUARE for the PWR reactor, which meets the safety requirements for transportation of radioactive materials when transporting by all means of transport, except air; NP-053-04 and Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material TS-R-1 (2005 Edition, IAEA, Vienna).

An analysis of the current state of the art based on selected patent information sources revealed the following similar constructions.

In the description of the application DE 19908490 (WO 00/52705, conventional prior. Of February 26, 1999, published of September 8, 00), the design of the transport container is presented, which is made of a rectangular detachable with a base and a lid, which are a multi-layer honeycomb a design in which two fuel assemblies are laid. During transportation, the containers are packaged in a safety shock-absorbing structure. The implementation of the container body cellular and multi-layer increases the cost of the design and is technologically complex.

In the description of patent FR 2774800 (prior. From 10.02.98, publ. From 13.08.99), a transport container design is presented consisting of a detachable cylindrical body consisting of a semi-cylindrical base and a cover. The container is intended for transportation of both new and spent fuel assemblies having low radioactivity, by road or rail. The base includes a platform, while the platform is pivotally mounted from one of the ends with the possibility of rotation relative to the axis of the hinged mounting and installation at an angle to the horizontal plane of the container. The platform is designed to accommodate two fuel assemblies of the “square” type and includes elements fixing the fuel assemblies on it, made in the form of two extended lodgements and corresponding L-shaped covers attached to the platform with bolts on the one hand and hinges on the other . This container design is the closest in conceptual design to the object of study and is selected as a prototype.

However, the implementation of the container of cylindrical shape increases the dimensions in height, which may lead to a limitation of their quantity during transportation. In this design, there is also no possibility of adjusting the laying dimensions for various types of fuel assemblies. It should also be noted that the design of this container ensures the loading of fuel assemblies only when the container base is horizontal, which limits its operational capabilities associated with the availability of equipment from the consumer and manufacturer of fuel assemblies.

The technical task of the invention is the creation of a container for transporting fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor of universal design.

The problem is solved in that in a container for transporting fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor, including a housing made detachable on a horizontal plane and consisting of a base and a lid, inside of which there is a platform fixed to the base on the sides with bolted connections and from one of the ends - pivotally, with the possibility of rotation about the axis of articulation and installation at an angle to the horizontal plane, and including elements that fix the fuel assembly on it, made According to the invention, the container body is made rectangular with beveled corners at the end of the base and an element is fixed at the end of the base, which allows it to be installed at an angle to the horizontal plane, while the platform and cover lodgements lodges are made in a V-shape, and on the platform, above each of the lodges, one frame is fixed or several frames are discretely located along them, each of which corresponds to the shape of the lid cross-section, and the lodgement cover is placed under the frame and mounted on it with a threaded element with the ability to adjust the distance between the lodgement and the lodgement cover, thereby securing the fuel assemblies of various sizes.

The execution of the container body rectangular, with corners beveled at the lid, provides a compact structure in the absence of sharp edges and protruding parts, ensuring safe handling during installation and loading and unloading operations. This design provides less stacking space.

Fixing an element at the end of the base that allows the installation of the base at an angle to the horizontal plane expands the operational capabilities of the container and removes restrictions on the availability of special equipment for loading (unloading) FAs from the consumer and the manufacturer of FAs.

Fulfillment of platform lodgements and V-shaped lodgement covers makes it possible to install fuel assemblies in the “rhombus” type lodgements, ensuring safe handling of the packaging and fuel assemblies when installing and securing fuel assemblies in it, when loading, unloading and securing TUKs for transportation by road, rail and water transport.

Fastening on the platform above each lodgement of one frame or several frames discretely located along them, each of which corresponds to the shape of the lodgement cover in cross section, and placing the lodgement cover under the frame with fastening to it with a threaded element provide adjustment of the distance between the lodgement and the cover lodgement, thereby making it possible to change the platform for fuel assemblies with turnkey sizes from 200 mm to 217 mm in the factory. Conversion of the platform for various lengths of TVS-SQUARE is carried out through a removable adapter.

The invention is illustrated by drawings.

Figure 1 shows a container for transporting fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor, a General view;

figure 2 is a view of the platform from the head of the fuel assembly;

The container for transporting fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor contains a base 1, a cover 2 provided with power frames 3. On the base 1 are welded eyes 4, a pin 5 is installed on the cover 2. The platform (Fig. 2) consists of supports 6, lodges 7 with lodges 8 and frames 9 and is equipped with adjusting bolts 10, straps 11 with clamping bolts 12 located on them, lodgement gaskets 13, a handle 14 to open the lodgement lid 8, endless screws of the platform 15, hinge 16, endless bolts of the frame 17.

An example of a specific implementation of the claimed device is a transport packaging set (TUK) for the transportation of two fuel assemblies-SQUARE. The basis of the kit is a container in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with beveled upper corners. The main components of the container are the base 1, the lid 2 and the platform (figure 2). The base and cover are interconnected by hinged bolts with nuts. The nuts are locked using spring washers, under which washers are installed with a spherical bearing surface, which, in turn, is centered in the conical recesses (sockets) of the container lid flange.

The base 1 TUK is a welded structure made of bent channels and stainless steel sheets. To secure the platform on the base, transverse channels are welded. To carry out lifting work in the corners of the base 1, four eyes are welded. A removable element is provided on the end wall of the base for swiveling the base with a locking device used when installing the base with the platform in a vertical position. On the walls of the base lugs are welded, which provide articulation of the hinged bolts with nuts. On the bottom surface of the bottom channels are welded, which are also used for stacking containers. To protect against moisture penetration into the internal volume of the container, a rubber seal (gasket) is provided on the base flange.

The lid of the container is a welded construction of sheets and a power set - frames made of stainless steel. To ensure the strength of the lid in the case of stacking containers during transportation and storage, two power frames 3 are provided on the lid, which are simultaneously power elements fixing the relative position of the containers relative to each other. Also, the fixation of the relative position of the containers during stacking is provided by two pins 5 mounted on the lid.

The platform is designed to secure two TVS-SQUARE. Structurally, the platform consists of 5 main parts: supports 6, tool holders 7, tool holders 8, stops, fasteners for tool holders. TVS-SQUARE is installed in the lodgement on two sides - like a rhombus. The bed 7 is a V-shaped trough of stainless steel sheet with gaskets 13 glued on the inside along the entire length. The bed is welded to the box-shaped supports 6. The design of the supports eliminates the approach of fuel assemblies during accidental impacts (falling from a height of 9 m), which does not require an additional partition that increases the overall dimensions. To the supports, through height-adjustable hinges 16, frames 9 are fastened with V-shaped lodges of the lodgements 8, which ensure the fuel assemblies are pressed and have a three-dimensional structure, which is additional protection during emergency impacts (falling from a height of 9 m and falling onto the pin). The longitudinal stiffness of the frames is ensured by four stainless steel strips. As fasteners of the frames, non-lost bolts of the frame 17 are used. On the inside of the lodgement lids, they are glued with gaskets 13 along the entire length. The gaskets provide a more even distribution of the compressive forces on the spacer grids of the fuel assemblies when tightening the bolts of the lid of the lodgements. The fixation of the fuel assembly from axial movements is ensured by pinch bolts 12 located on the slats 11, supported by the head of the fuel assembly on one side and the support platform from the side of the fuel assembly shank. From the side of the fuel assembly head on the platform there are two eyes necessary for verticalization of the platform. When the platform is verticalized, the racks attached to it through hinges are fixed on the base, which ensures sufficient stability of the platform. The platform is fastened with ten fixed screws 15 to the transverse beams of the base. Lossless bolts create convenience when working on the vertical platform.

Laying TVS-SQUARE is as follows

The manufacturer of the fuel assembly removes the lid 2 of the container using the eyes 4, welded to the power frames 3, previously unscrewing the nuts of the hinged bolts, configure the platform for a specific fuel assembly (turnkey size and length). Using the adjusting bolts 10, the height of the lid of the lodgements 8 is adjusted, thereby making it possible to set up the platform for the fuel assemblies with turnkey sizes from 200 to 217 mm. Conversion of the platform for various lengths of TVS-SQUARE is carried out through a removable adapter (not shown in the figure). Next, the untracked bolts 15 are turned off and the platform is verticalized, the untracked bolts of the frames 17 are turned off and, alternately, the handles 14 of the lodgment lids 8 are opened together with the frames 9, which are hinged 16 to the platform supports 6. TVS-SQUARE is installed in platform cradle 7 on two sides — like a rhombus, glued with gaskets 13. Alternately, cradle covers 8 are closed together with frames 9, the endless bolts of the frames 17 are wrapped and the platform is lowered to the horizontal position on the base 1. Then the platform to the base is fixed with non-latching bolts 15, after which the fuel assemblies are pressed in the axial direction with the help of pinch bolts 12. Fasten the lid of the container 2 on the base 1.

The proposed design of a container for transporting fuel assemblies ensures its own integrity during unladen transportation, integrity and operability of fuel assemblies fixed in the container during transportation of a filled container by road, rail and water. The fixing of TUKs for transportation made on the basis of the proposed solution, depending on the circumstances and carrying capacity of vehicles, can be carried out either one at a time or in a package of two or three TUKs. When securing the TUK in vehicles, the use of various stops (bars, shoes, etc.) is provided, excluding the movement of the TUK in the horizontal plane, and the TUK is fastened to the supporting surface of the vehicle using flexible couplers attached to the TUK for eyes 4 and power frames 3 on the cover 2.

Storage of empty TUKs is allowed both in storage conditions and in the open air, subject to protection from atmospheric precipitation and solar radiation (under a canopy).

Storage of TUKs loaded with fuel assemblies is allowed under the conditions and according to the rules stipulated by NP-053-04. When storing empty and loaded TUKs, they can be stacked in two and three tiers. To do this, pins 5 are provided on the cover 2.

Thus, the versatility and functionality of the claimed container is achieved due to the possibility of transportation by various means of transport (optimized overall mass characteristics), as well as by providing the possibility of installing “turnkey” different lengths and sizes in the container by using adapters and adjusting the position lodgement covers in height by threaded elements, without additional replaceable parts (gaskets).

Claims (1)

A container for transporting fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor, including a detachable housing consisting of a base and a lid, and containing a platform fastened to the base on the sides by bolt connections, and pivotally from one of the ends, with the possibility of rotation about the axis of articulation and installations at an angle to the horizontal plane, and including elements that fix the fuel assemblies on it, made in the form of long lodgements with covers that are attached to the platform, cast characterized in that the container body is made rectangular, with corners beveled at the lid, and an element is fixed at the end of the base for mounting the base at an angle to the horizontal plane, while platform lodges and lodgment lodges are V-shaped and on the platform, above each of the lodges one or several frames discretely located along the lodgements are fixed, each of which corresponds in shape to the lodgement cover in cross section, the lodgement cover being placed under the frame and secured to it with thread bovoy element with the ability to adjust the distance between the lodgement and lodgement lid.

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