Universal Lid Frame with Gap Compensators for Nuclear Fuel Shipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shipping containers for nuclear fuel assemblies require multiple lid frames to accommodate different types and sizes, leading to inefficiencies in production, storage, and transportation, as well as increased costs and time for replacing frames to match specific fuel assembly types.
Innovation Solution
A lid frame with gap compensators and press members, designed to surround and clamp nuclear fuel assemblies with a lattice structure, allowing for the transportation of various types using a single type of shipping container by compensating for size differences and spacer grid positions, reducing the need for multiple lid frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lid frames are provided to accommodate different types and sizes of nuclear fuel assemblies, then the shipping container can transport various types of fuel assemblies, but the production cost, storage space requirements, and time for replacing frames increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lid frame is designed with gap compensators that can accommodate multiple types and sizes of nuclear fuel assemblies using a single universal frame design. The gap compensators adjust to fit different fuel assembly dimensions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized frames and reducing inventory requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap compensators change the physical parameters of the lid frame by adjusting the spacing between clamps to match different fuel assembly sizes. This parameter adjustment allows the same lid frame structure to work with various fuel assembly types without requiring structural modifications.
2Reliability
If lid frames are designed to clamp specific types of nuclear fuel assemblies, then the clamping precision and reliability are improved, but the time and manpower required to replace frames for different fuel types increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lid frame incorporates adjustable gap compensators that can be dynamically configured to match different fuel assembly types. This dynamic adjustability eliminates the need for time-consuming frame replacements, as the same frame can be quickly reconfigured by adjusting the gap compensator positions.
3Device complexity
If clamps of the same size are used for all fuel assembly types, then the lid frame structure is simplified, but the positions of spacer grids vary depending on fuel assembly type
Solution Approach 1:
The gap compensators act as intermediary elements between the fixed lid frame structure and the variable spacer grid positions of different fuel assemblies. These compensators absorb the dimensional variations and allow the same clamp structure to effectively engage with spacer grids at different positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid frame for a nuclear fuel assembly shipping container and a shipping container for nuclear fuel assemblies are provided. The shipping container includes a lower container having a cradle, an upper container detachably coupled to the lower container, and a base frame coupled to the cradle with at least one nuclear fuel assembly placed thereon. The lid frame includes a plurality of supports installed apart from each other so as to surround the nuclear fuel assembly placed on the base frame, a plurality of clamps separated from each other, coupled to the supports so as to be perpendicular to the supports, rotatably hinged to the base frame, and clamping the nuclear fuel assembly, and a plurality of gap compensators coupled to inner surfaces of the supports in order to compensate for a gap between the inner surfaces of the supports and the nuclear fuel assembly.