CONTINUOUS SINTERING PLANT INTEGRATED WITH GLOVE BOX FOR MAINTENANCE USE

摘要

A continuous sintering apparatus to be used for sintering nuclear fuel pellets. A casing of a continuous sintering furnace is integrally constructed to have an upper portion enclosed in a maintenance glove box. The furnace casing includes a casing body and a ceiling cover removably mounted on the casing body, and the ceiling cover can be opened in the glove box while retaining the containment. A furnace member to be accommodated in the casing body comprises a combination of a plurality of divided furnace member units, and the furnace member units can be maintained by glove operations when they are delivered out from the inside of the casing body into the glove box. A ceiling crane is disposed at an upper portion of the inside of the glove box, and a ceiling cover tentative space and a maintenance working space are provided in the glove box. A turntable for placing the delivered furnace member unit is preferably disposed in the maintenance working space.