Fuel basket and spent fuel assembly transport device

Abstract

The application relates to the nuclear power technology field, in particular to a fuel basket and a spent fuel assembly transportation device. The fuel basket comprises a plurality of support plates, support columns and a pipe, the plurality of support plates are arranged at intervals along a first direction, each support plate has a central axis along the first direction, each support plate comprises a first connecting part and a second connecting part, the second connecting part is arranged on one side of the first connecting part away from the central axis in a circumferential direction, the first connecting part has a through hole, and the second connecting part has a first connecting hole; the support column is arranged to extend along the first direction, the support column is arranged to pass through the first connecting hole of each second connecting part to connect two adjacent second connecting parts; the pipe is arranged to extend along the first direction, the pipe is arranged to pass through and be limited in the through hole of each first connecting part, and the pipe has a containing cavity arranged to extend along the first direction, the containing cavity is used for containing the spent fuel assembly. The transportation device comprises the above fuel basket. The fuel basket and the transportation device are simple to assemble.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of nuclear power technology, and in particular to a transport device for a fuel basket and spent fuel assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] Spent fuel is nuclear fuel that has been removed from a nuclear reactor and has reached its designed burnup. It is highly radioactive and continues to decay and generate heat. Spent fuel containers are key equipment for the safe transport, storage, and final disposal of spent fuel. Within a spent fuel container, the fuel basket is the core component located inside the container's cavity, used to position, support, and separate spent fuel assemblies.

[0003] Currently, traditional fuel baskets are difficult to assemble, resulting in low assembly precision and affecting the safety of transporting spent fuel assemblies. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this application is to propose a transportation device for fuel baskets and spent fuel assemblies, aiming to solve the current technical problems of difficult assembly and low assembly accuracy of fuel baskets.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application proposes a fuel basket comprising: Multiple support plates are spaced apart along a first direction. Each support plate has a central axis along the first direction. Each support plate includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is circumferentially disposed on the side of the first connecting portion away from the central axis. The first connecting portion has a through hole that extends through opposite sides of the first connecting portion along the first direction. The second connecting portion has a first connecting hole that extends through opposite sides of the second connecting portion along the first direction. A support column extends along the first direction and passes through the first connection hole of each second connection part to connect two adjacent second connection parts; A pipe fitting extending along the first direction, the pipe fitting passing through and confined within the through hole of each of the first connections, the pipe fitting having a receiving cavity extending along the first direction for accommodating spent fuel assemblies.

[0006] In some embodiments, the fuel basket further includes a heat-conducting portion, the heat-conducting portion including a plurality of heat-conducting elements, the plurality of heat-conducting elements being arranged along the first direction, a connection gap being provided between two adjacent heat-conducting elements, and the second connection portion being inserted into the connection gap; Each of the heat-conducting components has a second connection hole that extends through opposite sides of the heat-conducting component along the first direction. The second connection hole and the first connection hole are aligned along the first direction, and the support column passes through the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

[0007] In some embodiments, the fuel basket further includes a heat-conducting portion, the heat-conducting portion including a plurality of heat-conducting elements, the plurality of heat-conducting elements being circumferentially disposed on the side of the second connecting portion away from the central axis, each heat-conducting element having an insertion groove on the side near the central axis, the second connecting portion being inserted into the insertion groove; Each of the heat-conducting components has a second connection hole that extends through opposite sides of the heat-conducting component along the first direction and communicates with the insertion groove. The second connection hole and the first connection hole are aligned along the first direction, and the support post passes through the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fuel basket further includes a connector that is attached to the end of the support column.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting portion has two outer end faces disposed opposite to each other along the first direction, each outer end face having a mounting hole extending along the first direction, and the connector being disposed within the mounting hole.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first connection includes a spacer that divides the through hole into a plurality of mounting cavities, and the tube passes through and is confined within the mounting cavities.

[0011] In some embodiments, one end of the pipe fitting along the first direction is an insertion end, and the pipe fitting further includes a plurality of guide plates, which are circumferentially connected to the insertion end and extend from the insertion end along the first direction in directions opposite to each other.

[0012] In some embodiments, the end of the pipe fitting opposite to the insertion end along the first direction is a welding end, and the welding end is welded to the support plate.

[0013] In some embodiments, the pipe fitting includes a peripheral plate that surrounds the receiving cavity, and the peripheral plate has a peripheral wall on the side facing away from the receiving cavity; The pipe fitting also includes a cladding plate and a neutron absorber. The cladding plate is connected to the peripheral wall, and a limiting cavity is formed between the cladding plate and the peripheral wall. The neutron absorber is disposed in the limiting cavity.

[0014] In some embodiments, the direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction, and the covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension portion and a second extension portion, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction; Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are welded to the peripheral wall, and the limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

[0015] In some embodiments, the direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction, and the covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension portion and a second extension portion, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction; Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are provided with a first snap-fit ​​portion, and the peripheral wall is provided with a second snap-fit ​​portion. The first snap-fit ​​portion can snap onto the second snap-fit ​​portion to realize the snap-fit ​​of the first extension segment, the second extension segment and the peripheral wall. The limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

[0016] In some embodiments, the direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction, and the covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension portion and a second extension portion, wherein the first extension portion and the second extension portion are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction; Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are provided with a first limiting hole, and the peripheral wall is provided with a second limiting hole. Limiting members are inserted into the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole to achieve a limiting connection between the first extension segment, the second extension segment and the peripheral wall. The limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

[0017] Secondly, this application also proposes a transport device for spent fuel assemblies, comprising: The fuel basket as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are: In the technical solution of this application, during the assembly of the fuel basket, the support columns can first be inserted into the first connecting holes of the second connecting portion of each support plate, so that the support plates and support columns together form a structural skeleton, ensuring the overall support strength and overall structural strength of the fuel basket. Then, the pipes are inserted into the through holes of the first connecting portion of each support plate and fixed within the through holes. The pipes have receiving cavities for accommodating spent fuel assemblies, giving the fuel basket an independent chamber for storing spent fuel assemblies. The pipes can be used to position, support, and separate spent fuel assemblies, enabling the safe transportation and storage of spent fuel assemblies.

[0019] Compared to the current welding-fixed assembly method for fuel baskets, the assembly method provided in this embodiment is simple and efficient. For example, the various structural components of the fuel basket are modularly designed, achieving overall modular assembly. Support plates and support columns can be connected by threads to form a structural frame, eliminating the need for large-area welding, which reduces the assembly difficulty and improves assembly accuracy. The pipes are independently installed within the structural frame, with one pipe capable of installing one spent fuel assembly. This improves the positioning, support, and separation of spent fuel assemblies, preventing displacement, bending, and damage after impact. Furthermore, the reduced number of internal welds results in a smooth inner wall and fewer gaps in the fuel basket, preventing the accumulation of contaminants and ensuring smooth insertion and removal of spent fuel assemblies.

[0020] The transport device for spent fuel assemblies using the aforementioned fuel basket has high critical safety performance, thermal performance, and structural safety performance. It can simplify the assembly of the transport device and improve the transport safety of spent fuel assemblies. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 An isometric view of the structure of a fuel basket provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of a fuel basket provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a support plate provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pipe fitting provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat-conducting component (heat-conducting part) provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Fuel basket; 100. Support plate; 110. Central axis; 120. First connecting part; 130. Second connecting part; 121. Through hole; 122. Spacer; 123. Mounting cavity; 131. First connecting hole; 200. Support column; 300. Pipe fittings; 310. Receiving cavity; 320. Insertion end; 330. Guide plate; 340. Welding end; 350. Peripheral plate; 360. Covering plate; 370. Neutron absorber; 351. Zhou Bi; 361. Limiting cavity; 362. Main body; 363. First extension section; 364. Second extension section; 400. Thermal conductive part; 410. Thermal conductive component; 420. Outer end face; 411. Connection gap; 412. Second connection hole; 500. Connectors; X, first direction; Y, the second direction.

[0024] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this application involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0027] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this application involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or," "and / or," or "and / or" throughout the text implies three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where A and B are simultaneously satisfied. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0028] In related technologies, fuel baskets mainly adopt a plate-connected structure. For example, the structural frame of the fuel basket is mainly composed of stainless steel plates that are interlocked, positioned, and welded together, forming multiple cavities for accommodating spent fuel assemblies between the interlocking stainless steel plates. In the above structure, the structural frame of the fuel basket is formed by welding and fixing multiple stainless steel plates, which is not only complex and difficult to assemble, but also has a large number of internal welds, resulting in low assembly accuracy and affecting the safety of transporting spent fuel assemblies.

[0029] Based on this, in order to solve the current technical problems of difficult and low-precision assembly of fuel baskets, referring to Figures 1 to 6 One embodiment of this application provides a fuel basket 10, which includes multiple support plates 100, support columns 200 and pipe fittings 300.

[0030] Multiple support plates 100 are spaced apart along a first direction X. For example, the first direction X can be a vertical direction. Each support plate 100 has a central axis 110 along the first direction X. Each support plate 100 includes a first connecting portion 120 and a second connecting portion 130. The second connecting portion 130 is circumferentially disposed on the side of the first connecting portion 120 away from the central axis 110. The first connecting portion 120 has a through hole 121 that extends through the opposite sides of the first connecting portion 120 along the first direction X. The second connecting portion 130 has a first connecting hole 131 that extends through the opposite sides of the second connecting portion 130 along the first direction X.

[0031] The support column 200 extends along the first direction X and passes through the first connecting hole 131 of each second connecting part 130 to connect two adjacent second connecting parts 130. In other words, the support column 200 connects two adjacent support plates 100. One possible implementation is that the second connecting part 130 is provided with an internal thread at the first connecting hole 131, and the support column 200 is provided with an external thread. The internal thread and the external thread cooperate to position the second connecting part 130 (i.e., the support plate 100) on the support column 200, ensuring that the two adjacent support plates 100 are spaced apart from each other.

[0032] The fitting 300 extends along a first direction X, passes through and is confined within the through-hole 121 of each first connection portion 120, and has a receiving cavity 310 extending along the first direction X for accommodating spent fuel assemblies. For example, taking the fuel basket 10 placed vertically, the bottom of the fitting 300 can be welded to the bottommost support plate 100 to ensure the fitting 300 is fixed within the through-hole 121 and to prevent the fitting 300 from shaking.

[0033] Specifically, when assembling the fuel basket 10, the support columns 200 can first be inserted into the first connecting holes 131 of the second connecting portions 130 of each support plate 100, so that the support plates 100 and the support columns 200 together form a structural frame, ensuring the overall support strength and overall structural strength of the fuel basket 10. Then, the pipe fittings 300 are inserted into the through holes 121 of the first connecting portions 120 of each support plate 100, and the pipe fittings 300 are fixed in the through holes 121. The pipe fittings 300 have a receiving cavity 310 for accommodating spent fuel assemblies, so that the fuel basket 10 has an independent chamber for storing spent fuel assemblies. The pipe fittings 300 can be used to position, support, and separate spent fuel assemblies, enabling the safe transportation and storage of spent fuel assemblies.

[0034] Compared to the current assembly method of welding and fixing for fuel basket 10, the assembly method of fuel basket 10 provided in this embodiment is simple and efficient. For example, the various structural components of fuel basket 10 are modularly designed to achieve overall modular assembly of fuel basket 10. The support plate 100 and support column 200 can form a structural frame by threaded connection, without the need for large-area welding and fixing, which helps to reduce the assembly difficulty of fuel basket 10 and improve the assembly accuracy of fuel basket 10. The pipes 300 are independently set in the structural frame, and one pipe 300 can install one spent fuel assembly, which helps to improve the positioning, support and separation effect of spent fuel assembly, and prevent spent fuel assembly from shifting, bending and being damaged after impact. In addition, due to the reduction of internal welds, the inner wall of fuel basket 10 is flat and has fewer gaps, which helps to avoid the accumulation of dirt in the gaps and ensures that spent fuel assembly can be smoothly inserted or removed.

[0035] In some embodiments, the support plate 100, support column 200, and pipe fitting 300 may all be made of stainless steel.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the fuel basket 10 further includes a heat-conducting portion 400, which includes a plurality of heat-conducting elements 410. Exemplarily, the heat-conducting elements 410 may be aluminum blocks. The plurality of heat-conducting elements 410 are arranged along a first direction X, with a connection gap 411 between adjacent heat-conducting elements 410. A second connecting portion 130 is inserted into the connection gap 411. Each heat-conducting element 410 has a second connecting hole 412, which extends through opposite sides of the heat-conducting element 410 along the first direction X. The second connecting hole 412 and the first connecting hole 131 are aligned along the first direction X, and a support column 200 passes through the first connecting hole 131 and the second connecting hole 412.

[0037] Specifically, based on the usage environment of the fuel basket 10, the fuel basket 10 is used to position, support and separate spent fuel assemblies. The spent fuel assemblies are highly radioactive and can continuously decay and generate heat. The heat conduction element 410 can conduct the heat inside the fuel basket 10 to the outside of the fuel basket 10, preventing the heat generated by the continuous decay of the spent fuel assemblies from accumulating inside the fuel basket 10 and causing thermal deformation of the internal structure of the fuel basket 10. This helps to improve the structural stability of the fuel basket 10 and ensure the safety of transporting the spent fuel assemblies.

[0038] The second connecting portion 130 of each support plate 100 is sandwiched between two adjacent heat-conducting elements 410. That is, the two adjacent heat-conducting elements 410 can press and position the support plate 100, and the support column 200 can pass through the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting element 410, realizing the integral connection between the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting element 410, ensuring the stability and reliability of the overall structure of the fuel basket 10. By adopting the above structure, the welding structure between the support plate 100, the support column 200 and the heat-conducting element 410 can be effectively reduced, which helps to reduce the assembly difficulty of the fuel basket 10, improve the assembly accuracy of the fuel basket 10, and enhance the overall structural strength of the fuel basket 10.

[0039] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6In some embodiments, the fuel basket 10 further includes a heat-conducting portion 400, which includes a plurality of heat-conducting elements 410. Exemplarily, the heat-conducting elements 410 may be aluminum blocks. The plurality of heat-conducting elements 410 are circumferentially disposed on the side of the second connecting portion 130 away from the central axis 110. Each heat-conducting element 410 has an insertion groove on the side near the central axis 110, and the second connecting portion 130 is inserted into the insertion groove. That is, the support plate 100 is connected between the circumferentially disposed heat-conducting elements 410, and the support plate 100 can be positioned via the heat-conducting elements 410.

[0040] Each heat-conducting component 410 has a second connection hole 412. The second connection hole 412 extends through the opposite sides of the heat-conducting component 410 along the first direction X, and the second connection hole 412 connects to the insertion groove. The second connection hole 412 and the first connection hole 131 are aligned along the first direction X, and the support column 200 passes through the first connection hole 131 and the second connection hole 412.

[0041] Specifically, the second connecting portion 130 of each support plate 100 is inserted into the insertion groove of a plurality of heat-conducting elements 410 arranged circumferentially. The heat-conducting elements 410 can support and position the support plate 100, and the support column 200 can pass through the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting elements 410 to achieve an integral connection between the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting elements 410, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the overall structure of the fuel basket 10. By adopting the above structure, on the one hand, the welding structure between the support plate 100, the support column 200, and the heat-conducting component 410 can be reduced, the assembly steps between the support plate 100, the support column 200, and the heat-conducting component 410 can be simplified, the assembly difficulty between the support plate 100, the support column 200, and the heat-conducting component 410 can be reduced, and the assembly accuracy between the support plate 100, the support column 200, and the heat-conducting component 410 can be improved; on the other hand, the second connecting part 130 of the support plate 100 can extend into the interior of the heat-conducting component 410 body, which can increase the contact area between the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting component 410, improve the heat conduction efficiency of the heat-conducting component 410 to the heat inside the fuel basket 10, and ensure the stability, reliability, and safety of the internal structure of the fuel basket 10.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the fuel basket 10 further includes a connector 500 connected to the end of the support column 200. For example, the connector 500 may be a nut, in which case the end of the support column 200 may be threaded to achieve a threaded connection between the connector 500 and the support column 200.

[0043] Specifically, after the support column 200 passes through the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting component 410, the end of the support column 200 can be locked using the connector 500 to prevent the support column 200 from falling out of the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting component 410 or from shifting. This improves the positioning stability of the support column 200 on the support plate 100 and the heat-conducting component 410 and enhances the overall structural reliability of the fuel basket 10. Furthermore, since the connector 500 is only connected to the end of the support column 200, the assembly difficulty of the fuel basket 10 can be reduced.

[0044] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the heat-conducting part 400 has two outer end faces 420 disposed opposite to each other along the first direction X, the outer end faces 420 having mounting holes that extend along the first direction X, and the connector 500 being disposed within the mounting holes.

[0045] Specifically, after the connector 500 is tightened to the end of the support column 200, the connector 500 can be hidden in the mounting hole. Compared with the structure that exposes the connector 500, the setting method provided in this embodiment can prevent the connector 500 from loosening due to external force, and ensure the connection stability and reliability of the connector 500 at the end of the support column 200.

[0046] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the first connecting portion 120 includes a spacer 122 that divides the through hole 121 into a plurality of mounting cavities 123, through which the pipe 300 passes and is confined. Exemplarily, the first connecting portion 120 may be a grid structure.

[0047] Specifically, the spacer 122 positions each pipe fitting 300, making each pipe fitting 300 independent. Through the limiting effect of the spacer 122 on the pipe fittings 300, the positioning accuracy of the pipe fittings 300 can be improved, ensuring the uniformity and order of their arrangement. Furthermore, the spacer 122 helps to improve the structural strength of the first connecting portion 120, enhances its torque resistance, and ensures that the pipe fittings 300 are stably supported within the mounting cavity 123.

[0048] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, one end of the fitting 300 along the first direction X is an insertion end 320. The fitting 300 also includes a plurality of guide plates 330, which are circumferentially connected to the insertion end 320 and extend from the insertion end 320 along the first direction X in directions opposite to each other. Exemplarily, the plurality of guide plates 330 form a trumpet-shaped structure with a gradually widening opening from the insertion end 320 outward.

[0049] Specifically, the insertion end 320 is provided with a funnel-shaped guide plate 330, which makes the fitting 300 form a guide port with a larger diameter at the insertion end 320. That is, the diameter of the guide port is larger than the radial dimension of the receiving cavity 310. This facilitates the insertion of the spent fuel assembly into the receiving cavity 310 or the removal of the spent fuel assembly from the receiving cavity 310, and prevents the spent fuel assembly from getting stuck or other problems during insertion or removal. This helps to reduce the difficulty of installing the spent fuel assembly into the fitting 300, improve the installation efficiency of the spent fuel assembly into the fitting 300, and improve the installation accuracy of the spent fuel assembly into the fitting 300.

[0050] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the end of the fitting 300 opposite to the insertion end 320 along the first direction X is the welding end 340, which is welded to the support plate 100. For example, taking the fuel basket 10 placed vertically as an example, where the first direction X is vertical, the bottom end of the fitting 300 along the first direction X is the welding end 340, which is welded to the bottommost support plate 100.

[0051] Specifically, welding the fitting 300 to the support plate 100 improves the positioning stability of the fitting 300 within the mounting cavity 123, preventing the fitting 300 from detaching from or shifting within the mounting cavity 123. The fitting 300 and the support plate 100 are partially welded; that is, except at the weld end 340, there is a gap between the fitting 300 and the support plate 100. This gap compensates for the thermal deformation or expansion of the fitting 300 caused by the continuous decay and heating of the spent fuel assembly, thereby reducing the internal stress between the fitting 300 and the support plate 100 and improving the stability of the internal structure of the fuel basket 10.

[0052] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the pipe fitting 300 includes a peripheral plate 350, which encloses a receiving cavity 310. The peripheral plate 350 has a peripheral wall 351 on its side facing away from the receiving cavity 310. The pipe fitting 300 also includes a covering plate 360 ​​and a neutron absorber 370. The covering plate 360 ​​is connected to the peripheral wall 351, and a limiting cavity 361 is formed between the covering plate 360 ​​and the peripheral wall 351. The neutron absorber 370 is disposed within the limiting cavity 361. Exemplarily, the covering plate 360 ​​can be made of stainless steel, and the neutron absorber 370 can be made of boron stainless steel, boron aluminum carbide composite material, etc.

[0053] Specifically, since the spent fuel assembly inside the tube 300 contains uranium, the spent fuel assembly will continuously undergo nuclear fission. The intensity of nuclear fission is mainly determined by the number of neutrons. Therefore, a neutron absorber 370 is provided on the outer peripheral wall 351 of the tube 300. The neutron absorber 370 can "poison" and isolate the neutron flow, ensure the subcriticality of the spent fuel assembly, control the intensity of the fission reaction of the spent fuel assembly, and ensure the safe transportation of the spent fuel assembly.

[0054] It should be noted that the location and length of the neutron absorber 370 should be such that it can cover the active section of the spent fuel assembly. For example, assuming the length of the spent fuel assembly is 4.1 meters and the length of the active section in the spent fuel assembly is 3.6 meters, then the length of the pipe 300 can be set to 4.2 meters so that the pipe 300 can accommodate the spent fuel assembly, and the length of the neutron absorber 370 can be set to 3.8 meters so that the neutron absorber 370 can cover the active section of the spent fuel assembly.

[0055] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the direction perpendicular to the first direction X is defined as the second direction Y. The covering plate 360 ​​includes a body portion 362, a first extension segment 363, and a second extension segment 364. The first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion 362 along the second direction Y. The body portion 362, the first extension segment 363, and the second extension segment 364 can be an integrally formed structure, or the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 can be welded to the body portion 362. The first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 are both welded to the peripheral wall 351, and a limiting cavity 361 is formed between the body portion 362 and the peripheral wall 351.

[0056] Specifically, the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 can be spot-welded to the peripheral wall 351. This ensures the connection stability of the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 on the peripheral wall 351, while also reducing the difficulty of connecting the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 on the peripheral wall 351. Furthermore, spot welding can compensate for the thermal expansion of the cladding plate 360 ​​caused by the decay heat released from the spent fuel assembly.

[0057] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5In some embodiments, both the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 are provided with a first engaging portion, and the peripheral wall 351 is provided with a second engaging portion. The first engaging portion can engage with the second engaging portion to achieve engagement between the first extension segment 363, the second extension segment 364, and the peripheral wall 351. For example, the first engaging portion can be a engaging protrusion, and the second engaging portion can be a engaging groove. Alternatively, the first engaging portion can be a engaging groove, and the second engaging portion can be a engaging protrusion. A limiting cavity 361 is formed between the body portion 362 and the peripheral wall 351.

[0058] Specifically, the first extension 363, the second extension 364, and the peripheral wall 351 are connected by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. This not only facilitates the installation of the cladding plate 360 ​​on the peripheral wall 351 and the removal of the cladding plate 360 ​​from the peripheral wall 351, thus reducing the assembly difficulty and improving the assembly efficiency of the fuel basket 10, but also ensures the connection stability of the cladding plate 360 ​​on the peripheral wall 351, preventing the cladding plate 360 ​​from falling off the peripheral wall 351 due to vibration. This also helps to improve the limiting strength of the cladding plate 360 ​​on the neutron absorber 370, enabling the neutron absorber 370 to effectively slow down the fission reaction intensity of the spent fuel assembly.

[0059] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, both the first extension segment 363 and the second extension segment 364 are provided with a first limiting hole, and the peripheral wall 351 is provided with a second limiting hole. A limiting member passes through the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole to achieve a limiting connection between the first extension segment 363, the second extension segment 364 and the peripheral wall 351; a limiting cavity 361 is formed between the body portion 362 and the peripheral wall 351. Exemplarily, both the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole can be threaded holes, and the limiting member can be a bolt. Through the cooperation between the bolt and the threaded hole, a threaded connection between the first extension segment 363, the second extension segment 364 and the peripheral wall 351 can be achieved.

[0060] Specifically, the first extension 363, the second extension 364, and the peripheral wall 351 are connected by threads, which not only facilitates adaptive adjustment of the tightness between the covering plate 360 ​​and the peripheral wall 351 to accommodate different thicknesses of the neutron absorber 370 and limit the neutron absorber 370 of different thicknesses by the covering plate 360, but also ensures good connection stability and high connection reliability between the covering plate 360 ​​and the peripheral wall 351.

[0061] Correspondingly, another embodiment of this application also provides a transport device for spent fuel assemblies, which includes the fuel basket 10 in any of the above embodiments.

[0062] Specifically, the transport device using the aforementioned fuel basket 10 for spent fuel assemblies has high critical safety performance, thermal performance, and structural safety performance. It can simplify the assembly difficulty of the transport device and improve the transport safety of spent fuel assemblies.

[0063] Thanks to the improvements to the fuel basket 10 described above, the waste fuel assembly transport device of this embodiment has the same technical effects as the fuel basket 10 described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0064] It should be noted that other details of the fuel basket 10 and the spent fuel assembly transportation device disclosed in this application can be found in the prior art, and will not be repeated here.

[0065] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the content of the specification and drawings of this application under the concept of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A fuel basket, characterized in that, include: Multiple support plates are spaced apart along a first direction. Each support plate has a central axis along the first direction. Each support plate includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is circumferentially disposed on the side of the first connecting portion away from the central axis. The first connecting portion has a through hole that extends through opposite sides of the first connecting portion along the first direction. The second connecting portion has a first connecting hole that extends through opposite sides of the second connecting portion along the first direction. A support column extends along the first direction and passes through the first connection hole of each second connection part to connect two adjacent second connection parts; A pipe fitting extending along the first direction, the pipe fitting passing through and confined within the through hole of each of the first connections, the pipe fitting having a receiving cavity extending along the first direction for accommodating spent fuel assemblies.

2. The fuel basket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel basket further includes a heat-conducting part, which includes a plurality of heat-conducting elements. The plurality of heat-conducting elements are arranged along the first direction, and there is a connection gap between two adjacent heat-conducting elements. The second connection part is inserted into the connection gap. Each of the heat-conducting components has a second connection hole that extends through opposite sides of the heat-conducting component along the first direction. The second connection hole and the first connection hole are aligned along the first direction, and the support column passes through the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

3. The fuel basket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel basket further includes a heat-conducting part, which includes a plurality of heat-conducting elements. The plurality of heat-conducting elements are arranged circumferentially on the side of the second connecting part away from the central axis. Each heat-conducting element has an insertion groove on the side near the central axis, and the second connecting part is inserted into the insertion groove. Each of the heat-conducting components has a second connection hole that extends through opposite sides of the heat-conducting component along the first direction and communicates with the insertion groove. The second connection hole and the first connection hole are aligned along the first direction, and the support post passes through the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

4. The fuel basket according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The fuel basket also includes a connector that is attached to the end of the support column.

5. The fuel basket according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heat-conducting part has two outer end faces arranged opposite each other along the first direction. The outer end faces have mounting holes that extend along the first direction, and the connector is disposed in the mounting holes.

6. The fuel basket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting portion includes a spacer that divides the through hole into multiple mounting cavities, through which the pipe is inserted and confined.

7. The fuel basket according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the pipe fitting along the first direction is the insertion end. The pipe fitting also includes a plurality of guide plates. The plurality of guide plates are circumferentially connected to the insertion end and extend from the insertion end along the first direction in directions opposite to each other.

8. The fuel basket according to claim 7, characterized in that, The end of the pipe fitting opposite to the insertion end along the first direction is the welding end, and the welding end is welded to the support plate.

9. The fuel basket according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pipe fitting includes a peripheral plate that surrounds and forms the receiving cavity, and the peripheral plate has a peripheral wall on the side facing away from the receiving cavity; The pipe fitting also includes a cladding plate and a neutron absorber. The cladding plate is connected to the peripheral wall, and a limiting cavity is formed between the cladding plate and the peripheral wall. The neutron absorber is disposed in the limiting cavity.

10. The fuel basket according to claim 9, characterized in that, The direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction. The covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension segment and a second extension segment, and the first extension segment and the second extension segment are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction. Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are welded to the peripheral wall, and the limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

11. The fuel basket according to claim 9, characterized in that, The direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction. The covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension segment and a second extension segment, and the first extension segment and the second extension segment are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction. Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are provided with a first snap-fit ​​portion, and the peripheral wall is provided with a second snap-fit ​​portion. The first snap-fit ​​portion can snap onto the second snap-fit ​​portion to realize the snap-fit ​​of the first extension segment, the second extension segment and the peripheral wall. The limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

12. The fuel basket according to claim 9, characterized in that, The direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as the second direction. The covering plate includes a body portion, a first extension segment and a second extension segment, and the first extension segment and the second extension segment are respectively connected to opposite sides of the body portion along the second direction. Both the first extension segment and the second extension segment are provided with a first limiting hole, and the peripheral wall is provided with a second limiting hole. Limiting members are inserted into the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole to achieve a limiting connection between the first extension segment, the second extension segment and the peripheral wall. The limiting cavity is formed between the main body and the peripheral wall.

13. A transport device for spent fuel assemblies, characterized in that, include: The fuel basket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

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