Underwater disposal of spent nuclear fuel elements - by entering fuel elements into shaft for cutting and circulating water using filter as barrier against pollution entering pond

摘要

Appts. for under water disposal of spent fuel elements and casings (6) has a shear (24) operating in a housing (20) set on the base (4) of a storage pond (2). Parts for disposal (6) are fed into the top of a shaft (18) and down to the housing (20) to be cut into pieces by the shear (24) and collected in a container (26). All the parts (14,16,30,62) of a feed column (10) as well as the shear (24) and presses (22) are pref. exchangeable by remote control under water. TV cameras pref. survey the operation within the housing (20). USE/ADVANTAGE - For pressurised water reactors. Avoids pollution of water in storage pond by radioactive particles from eroded surface of fuel element casings.