STACKABLE STORAGE ELEMENT FOR NUCLEAR FUEL, AND STORAGE MODULE FORMED BY A STACK OF SUCH ELEMENTS

摘要

A storage unit comprises a series of chambers (14) to receive cases (16) filled with nuclear fuel, closed at their ends (24, 28) by removable plugs (34), and containing ventilation channels (19) linked to orifices (32) in the chamber ends. The ventilation channels are located between inner and outer tubular sleeves of the casings, made respectively from stainless steel and cast iron. Each storage unit forms a regular hexagon with seven chambers, or part of a hexagon with one or two chambers, enabling units to be stacked in a rectangular parallelpiped encased in concrete (10).