Packaging for transport and/or storage of radioactive materials, which include improved means of thermal conduction

Abstract

The invention relates to a package ( 2 ) for the transport and/or storage of radioactive materials, including a lateral body ( 10 ) which defines a cavity ( 6 ) for housing radioactive materials which extends along a longitudinal axis ( 8 ), where the body ( 10 ) includes an interior wall ( 22 ) together with an exterior wall ( 22 ) which between them define a space ( 14 ) which extends around said longitudinal axis ( 8 ), where said space houses means of radiological protection ( 18 ) as well as means of thermal conduction ( 16 ). According to the invention, the means of thermal conduction includes multiple thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) each defining internally a void which extends lengthways in a direction of conduction ( 36 ) which runs from the interior wall ( 20 ) towards the exterior wall ( 22 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . Package ( 2 ) for the transport and/or storage of radioactive materials, where said package includes a lateral body ( 10 ) which defines a cavity ( 6 ) for housing said radioactive materials which extends along a longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the package, where the body ( 10 ) includes an interior wall ( 22 ) together with an exterior wall ( 22 ) which between them define a space ( 14 ) which extends around said longitudinal axis, where said space houses means of radiological protection ( 18 ) as well as means of thermal conduction ( 16 ),
 characterised in that said means of thermal conduction include multiple thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) which each define internally a void ( 32 ) which extends lengthways in a conduction direction ( 36 ) going from the interior wall ( 20 ) towards the exterior wall ( 22 ), and in that at least a part of the thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) has its void ( 32 ) at least partially filled with a radiological protection material.   
     
     
         12 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that certain of said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) each extend in a direction which is essentially radial to the package lateral body. 
     
     
         13 . Package according to  claim 11  or  claim 12 , characterised in that at least some of said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) each exhibit an essentially cylindrical form. 
     
     
         14 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that at least some of the said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) each extend lying together over a length essentially equal to the distance separating the interior and exterior walls, along the direction of conduction ( 36 ). 
     
     
         15 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) together form a network of voids ( 32 ) which, in cross section along at least one plane parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) and traversing this network, exhibits at least one zone whose density of voids has a value greater than or equal to 100 voids/m 2 . 
     
     
         16 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that at least some of the said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) are made using one or more honeycomb structures ( 30 ), with each honeycomb cell forming said void ( 32 ) of a thermal conduction element. 
     
     
         17 . Package according to  claim 16 , characterised in that each honeycomb structure is equipped with holes ( 46 ) linking the cells ( 32 ) together. 
     
     
         18 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that at least some of the said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) are made using independent elements, spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         19 . Package according to  claim 11 , characterised in that at least one of the said thermal conduction elements ( 31 ) fits externally against the radiological protection material, and also internally, at its voids ( 32 ). 
     
     
         20 . Container ( 1 ) for the transport and/or storage of radioactive materials containing a package ( 2 ) according to  claim 11 .