Recycled Fuel Storage Basket Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing recycled fuel assembly storage baskets made of boron-aluminum material are difficult to manufacture due to the hardness of boron, requiring excessive cutting efforts and material wastage.

Innovation Solution

A recycled fuel assembly storage basket design featuring stacked first and second plate members connected by extruded connecting members, with recesses and trapezoidal cross-sections to reduce cutting processes and prevent material loss, allowing for easier assembly and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plate-shaped members made of boron-aluminum material are used to form storage spaces, then neutron shielding function is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to hardness of boron requiring extra cutting efforts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneutron shielding functionVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The storage basket is divided into multiple plate-shaped members (first plate members and second plate members) that are stacked and connected together. This segmentation allows each member to be manufactured separately using extrusion molding, avoiding the need to cut large complex shapes from solid boron-aluminum material, thereby reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining neutron shielding effectiveness through the cumulative effect of multiple plates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical cutting processes with extrusion molding to manufacture the plate-shaped members. By forming the members through extrusion rather than cutting, the manufacturing process becomes significantly easier and less time-consuming, while the resulting members maintain the required structural integrity and neutron shielding properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Shape

If plate-shaped members are cut to form storage spaces, then storage cell geometry is improved, but material wastage increases due to difficult cutting of boron-aluminum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage cell geometryVSAvoidmaterial wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces cutting operations with extrusion molding to manufacture the plate-shaped members. This substitution eliminates material wastage associated with cutting while still achieving the required storage cell geometry through the precise control of extrusion dimensions and the stacking arrangement of multiple members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the manufacturing parameter from cutting (subtractive process) to extrusion molding (formative process). This parameter change allows the material to be shaped directly into the required geometry without removal of material, thereby eliminating wastage while maintaining the necessary storage cell shape and dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple cutting processes are applied to members, then assembly precision is improved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces multiple cutting processes with a single extrusion molding operation for each plate member. This substitution reduces manufacturing time and complexity while maintaining assembly precision through the inherent dimensional accuracy of extrusion and the use of connection members with fitting structures that ensure precise alignment during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design reduces the number of cutting processes, minimizes material wastage, and enhances the basket's structural integrity and heat transfer efficiency while maintaining neutron shielding properties.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of connecting members extended in a direction towards which the first plate members are stacked, attached to a side surface of each of the first plate members being stacked, connecting the first plate members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of second plate members both of whose long side ends have recesses into which the connecting members are fitted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeometric Fitting: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS8705683B2Recycled fuel assembly storage basket and recycled fuel assembly storage container

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

A plurality of first plate members 10 is stacked with long side ends 10LT1 and 10LT2 thereof abutting to each other. Plate member joint bodies 100 are formed by attaching connecting members 30 to side surfaces 10S of the stacked first plate members 10, and connecting the first plate members 10. Further, the plate member joint bodies 100 are so disposed to face each other, and the connecting members 30 projecting from the side surfaces 10S of the first plate members 10 are inserted into recesses formed at both long side ends of second plate members 20. A recycled fuel assembly storage basket 1 is thus formed. Recycled fuel assemblies are stored in spaces surrounded by the first plate members 10 and the second plate members 20.