Modular Basket Assembly for Irregular Fuel Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing canister assemblies for storing and transporting radioactive fuel struggle to accommodate irregular fuel assemblies, requiring complex and costly manufacturing of special baskets to fit non-uniform fuel rods, which increases expenses and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A modular basket assembly with a grid defining non-uniform compartments, where the cross-sectional area of one compartment is larger than another by a multiplication factor, allowing for the accommodation of both regular and irregular fuel assemblies, including bowed, twisted, or deformed rods, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional uniform basket designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but irregular fuel assemblies cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The basket is divided into multiple compartments with different cross-sectional areas, allowing each compartment to accommodate specific fuel assembly types. This segmentation enables the basket to handle both regular and irregular fuel assemblies without requiring complete redesign of the entire basket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different compartments are designed with different cross-sectional areas tailored to specific fuel assembly requirements. This local differentiation allows the basket to optimize space utilization while maintaining simplicity in the overall design, as each local region is customized only where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If special baskets are manufactured to fit irregular fuel rods, then fuel assembly accommodation is improved, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The basket design incorporates multiple compartment types within a single basket structure, enabling one basket to serve multiple functions by accommodating both regular and irregular fuel assemblies. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate special baskets for different fuel types, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-uniform compartments are used, then irregular fuel assemblies can be stored, but criticality control becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The basket is segmented into distinct compartments with defined geometric spacing, allowing for systematic arrangement of fuel assemblies. This segmentation enables maintenance of criticality control through structured geometry while accommodating irregular fuel assemblies in specific designated compartments.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket incorporates asymmetric compartment designs where necessary to accommodate irregular fuel assemblies while maintaining overall symmetry in the criticality control arrangement. The asymmetric elements are localized and do not compromise the overall criticality control strategy.
Data Source
AI summary
A basket assembly for receiving a plurality of fuel assemblies includes a basket having a grid defining spacing between fuel assembly compartments, the grid defining a first compartment for receiving a first fuel assembly and a second compartment for receiving a second fuel assembly, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second compartment is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first compartment. The basket assembly is configured to receive in the first compartment a first fuel assembly, the first fuel assembly being a regular fuel assembly, and the basket assembly configured to receive in the second compartment a second fuel assembly, the second fuel assembly being an irregular fuel assembly, wherein the irregular fuel assembly includes at least one irregular fuel rod.