Fuel storage rack and method for storing fuel assemblies in an underwater environment having lateral access loading

摘要

A fuel rack for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies in an underwater (or other submerged) environment that reduces the depth required for the pool to effectuate the fuel rack loading procedure. The fuel rack is specially designed to afford lateral loading. In one embodiment, the fuel rack comprises a body structure comprising a plurality of cells for receiving an elongated fuel assembly, the body having a top, a bottom and a first lateral side; a plurality of elongated slots in the first lateral side of the body structure, each elongated slot forming a lateral passageway into one of the plurality of cells; and means for supporting the fuel assemblies within the cells. In another embodiment, the invention is a method of laterally loading a fuel rack that utilizes rotation of the fuel assembly to secure the fuel assembly within its designated cell.