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, wherein the storage container has a predetermined height and contains the nuclear fuel in a fuel receiver located in a concrete body forming part of the storage container, said system comprising: 
 facilities for assembling a concrete formwork for the concrete body of the storage container,    a water pool having (a) a first pool section with a first depth of water at least equal to the predetermined height of the nuclear fuel and in which the nuclear fuel is immersed, and (b) a second pool section with a second depth of water at least equal to a predetermined height of the formwork plus a predetermined height of the nuclear fuel and in which the assembled formwork is immersed,    facilities for moving the assembled formwork to the second pool section of the water pool,    facilities for introducing the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver,    facilities for introducing the fuel receiver into the formwork,    facilities for placing concrete in the formwork, with the formwork immersed in the water in the second pool section of the water pool and accommodating the fuel receiver containing the fuel therein, to form the concrete body in the formwork and about the fuel receiver and fuel therein, and    facilities for removing the formwork and the concrete body formed therein from the water pool.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further including facilities for introducing nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver where the fuel receiver is already accommodated in the formwork, and facilities for sealing the fuel receiver with the nuclear fuel accommodated therein before the concrete is placed in the formwork.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3  in which the facilities for introducing the nuclear fuel into the fuel receiver include means for transferring the 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 1:   in which the water pool has a series of pool sections disposed along a looped line, and    in which the system includes equipment for moving the concrete formwork between the pool sections.    
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the water pool includes a third pool section for immersed accommodation of the formwork with the nuclear fuel introduced into the fuel receiver.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6  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.  
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 5  in which the looped line is a circle.