Method and system for storing nuclear fuel

Abstract

A method for storing nuclear fuel in a container ( 10 ) including a concrete body and a fuel receiver embedded in the concrete body, comprises the steps of: providing formwork ( 62 ) for the concrete body and supporting the fuel receiver within the formwork; placing the formwork in an immersed position in a pool ( 54 ) containing a body of water; placing concrete in the immersed formwork ( 62 ); and removing the formwork with the concrete body cast therein from the pool ( 52 ). A system for manufacturing a storage container ( 10 ) for use in the method comprises: a water pool ( 52 ) of a depth at least equal to the height of the storage container ( 10 ) to be manufactured; facilities for assembling concrete formwork ( 62 ) for the concrete body ( 12 ) of the storage container ( 10 ); facilities for moving the formwork and the fuel receiver to the water pool ( 52 ); facilities for placing concrete in the formwork ( 62 ) with the formwork immersed in water in the water pool ( 52 ); and facilities for removing the formwork ( 62 ) and the concrete body ( 12 ) therein from the water pool ( 52 ).

1 . A system for manufacturing a storage container for nuclear fuel, especially spent nuclear fuel, and containment of the fuel in a fuel receiver in a concrete body forming part of the storage container, said system comprising 
 a water pool of a depth at least equal to the height of the storage container to be manufactured,    facilities for assembling concrete formwork for the concrete body of the storage container,    facilities for moving the formwork and the fuel receiver to the water pool,    facilities for introducing the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver    facilities for placing concrete in the formwork with the formwork immersed in water in the water pool to form the concrete body in the formwork, and    facilities for removing the formwork and the concrete body formed therein from the water pool.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the water pool includes a first pool section for accommodating immersed nuclear fuel and a second pool section for immersed accommodation of formwork.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 2 , including facilities for introducing nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver with the fuel receiver accommodated in the formwork and facilities for sealing the fuel receiver with the nuclear fuel accommodated therein.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3  in which the facilities for introducing nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver include means for transferring fuel from the first pool section to the second pool section and for introducing the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver in the second pool section.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 2 , in which the water pool has a plurality of pool sections disposed along a looped line, preferably a circle, and in which the system includes equipment for moving the concrete formwork between the pool sections.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 2  in which the water pool includes a third pool section for immersed accommodation of the formwork with nuclear fuel introduced into the fuel receiver.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 3  in which the pool sections are interconnected through water locks.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the facilities for assembling the formwork are disposed adjacent to the water pool.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the facilities for removing the formwork and the concrete body therein from the water pool include means for transporting the removed formwork to a storage site for the storage containers.