Apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus, which can be in the form of a fuel rack having adjustable height pedestals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel rack for supporting spent nuclear fuel assemblies comprising:
 a base plate having a top surface;   a fuel rack body extending upward from the base plate and comprising a plurality of cells, each of the cells having an open top end and being configured to receive a spent nuclear fuel assembly, and wherein fibs each of the cells, a portion of an upper surface of the base plate forms a floor of the cell;   a plurality of adjustable height pedestals connected to a bottom surface of the base plate, each of the adjustable height pedestals comprising:
 a block having a hole defined by a threaded inner surface, the block fixedly coupled to the base plate; 
 a peg having a threaded outer surface, the threaded outer surface of the peg threadily engaged to the threaded inner surface of the block; 
 an engagement element in a top surface of the peg; and 
 wherein upon a tool engaging the engagement element and rotating the peg, the extent the peg protrudes from a bottom surface of the block is adjusted; and 
   wherein for each of the adjustable height pedestals, the adjustable height pedestal is coupled to the base plate so that the engagement element is aligned with and is accessible via a hole in the floor of one of the cells.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel rack of  claim 1  wherein the engagement element comprises a non-circular depression. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel rack of  claim 1  wherein the fuel rack body comprises a plurality of cutouts adjacent the base plate that provide lateral passageways into the cells.