초록 ▼

A storage rack for storing nuclear fuel rod assemblies is provided with an array of cell housings having damping elements which are preloaded against the outer walls of the individual cells. The damping elements are slabs which when preloaded against the cell walls provide a coulomb damping function

A storage rack for storing nuclear fuel rod assemblies is provided with an array of cell housings having damping elements which are preloaded against the outer walls of the individual cells. The damping elements are slabs which when preloaded against the cell walls provide a coulomb damping function which is highly effective in absorbing vibration from rough handling or seismic events. The cell housings may be located in alternating positions in the array and cells may be formed from the outer walls of the surrounding cell housings. The cell housings are held together in the array by support bars which are affixed to the top and bottom ends of the cell housings. The support bars may include recesses to align the cell housings.

대표청구항 ▼

A rack matrix assembly for supporting therein a plurality of elongated nuclear fuel assemblies: A. a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments including: i. an elongated tubular housing extending along a housing axis and having a polygonal cross-section transverse to said housing axis, sa

A rack matrix assembly for supporting therein a plurality of elongated nuclear fuel assemblies: A. a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments including: i. an elongated tubular housing extending along a housing axis and having a polygonal cross-section transverse to said housing axis, said housing having at least three lateral sidewalls, at least one of said sidewalls having a substantially planar exterior surface extending substantially parallel to said housing axis, and said housing having at least one end member extending transverse to and affixed to said housing axis at one end of said housing, said sidewalls and said end member defining a volume interior to said housing for receiving a nuclear fuel rod, ii. one or more elongated damping elements, each of said damping elements being associated with one of said sidewalls having said substantially planar surface, and each of said damping elements having at least one substantially planar lateral surface extending in the direction of elongation of said damping element, and iii. one or more clamp assemblies including means for biasing each of said damping elements against its associated sidewall with said planar surface of said damping element being adjacent to said planar surface of said sidewall, each said biasing means having at least one fixed portion and free end extending from said fixed portion said fixed portion being securely fastened to said at least one exterior surface, and said free end overlying said damping slab adjacent said peripheral edge and preloading said damping against said exterior surface, and B. matrix means for establishing the relative position of said compartments whereby each said housing is fixedly positioned with respect to each other with said housing axes mutually parallel.