Radioactive Material Storage Device Radial Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices for radioactive materials face challenges in achieving efficient thermal conduction due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to increased clearance that hampers heat evacuation and compromises mechanical resistance, especially in materials like aluminum alloys, which deteriorate with temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A detachable storage device with substructures that can be moved radially relative to a longitudinal axis, utilizing actuation means with inclined bearing surfaces to reduce clearance between the device and packaging, enhancing heat exchange and mechanical resistance through optimized deployment and retraction mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If substantial manufacturing tolerances are used for the lateral internal surface of the packaging cavity, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the clearance between the packaging and storage device increases, leading to thermal insulation that hampers heat evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device incorporates movable substructures that can radially displace relative to the longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability allows the storage device to adapt its position within the packaging cavity, compensating for clearance variations caused by manufacturing tolerances and ensuring optimal thermal contact with the packaging walls for efficient heat evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the radial position parameter of the substructures through controlled displacement. By adjusting this parameter, the storage device can optimize its thermal contact with the packaging, maintaining effective heat conduction despite variations in packaging manufacturing tolerances.
2Ease of operation
If increased clearance is allowed to facilitate loading of the detachable storage device into the packaging cavity, then ease of operation is improved, but thermal conduction between the storage device and packaging deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable substructures enable the storage device to transition between different radial positions. During loading, the substructures can be positioned to facilitate insertion, and once loaded, they can be adjusted to optimize thermal contact, thus resolving the conflict between ease of operation and thermal conduction reliability.
3Temperature
If the clearance between storage device and packaging is reduced to improve thermal conduction, then heat evacuation is enhanced, but the mechanical resistance of the storage device may be compromised due to temperature-related material deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is divided into multiple substructures that can move independently. This segmentation allows different parts of the storage device to be optimally positioned for both thermal contact and mechanical strength, with each substructure contributing to overall performance without compromising the other.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves thermal conduction and mechanical resistance, facilitating effective heat evacuation and maintaining the integrity of nuclear fuel assemblies by reducing clearance and utilizing elastic means for controlled radial displacement of substructures.
Implementation Method 1
actuation means acting by collaboration of shapes on said substructure, through at least one bearing surface having, when seen in section according to any plane passing through the abovementioned longitudinal axis, the shape of a line segment which is inclined relative to said axis, such that a movement of these actuation means in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device causes said substructure to be displaced radially
Implementation Method 2
thermal conduction between the storage device and the packaging should be efficient, to allow the evacuation, to outside the container, of the substantial heat released by the fuel assemblies
Implementation Method 3
utilizing elastic means for controlled radial displacement of substructures
Data Source
AI summary
A removable storage device intended to be housed in a cavity of a form of packaging for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, including several substructures movable relative to one another, positioned around a longitudinal axis, and defining multiple adjacent recesses for radioactive materials, together with means for deployment of the substructures including actuation means acting by shape collaboration on the substructures through a bearing surface having, in a section according to any plane passing through longitudinal axis, the shape of a segment inclined relative to this axis, such that displacement of actuation means in a first direction parallel to longitudinal axis causes a displacement of the substructures radially towards the exterior relative to longitudinal axis.