UF6 Transport Outer Container With Split Upper Shell Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transport arrangements for uranium hexafluoride (UF6) face challenges in providing easy handling while ensuring robust protection of the inner container, particularly during accidents, and reducing the exposure of operating personnel to radiation doses.
Innovation Solution
A transport arrangement with a multi-part outer container design, featuring a two-part upper shell and spacers that support the inner container to prevent mechanical forces on valves and plugs, allowing easy assembly and reducing manual handling efforts, and incorporating a drive mechanism for secure locking without the need for rotation locks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-piece upper shell is used to completely enclose the primary container, then protection against mechanical forces is improved, but ease of handling and assembly deteriorates due to heavy components and rotation prevention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The upper shell is divided into two separate parts (first upper shell part and second upper shell part) that can be assembled independently. This segmentation allows each part to be lighter and easier to handle while collectively providing the same protective enclosure function, resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of assembly
2Reliability
If shock-absorbing elements and locking mechanisms are added to protect valves and plugs, then protection against mechanical forces is improved, but device complexity and manual handling effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are pre-positioned on the inner container before insertion into the outer container. This preliminary positioning ensures that valves and plugs are already protected from mechanical forces during the loading process, eliminating the need for additional shock-absorbing elements and locking mechanisms while maintaining protection
3Ease of operation
If the inner container is positioned with longitudinal axis horizontal for transport, then ease of handling is improved, but protection against mechanical forces deteriorates due to increased stress on valves and plugs
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are pre-installed on the inner container before it is placed horizontally in the outer container. This preliminary action ensures that when the container is in its horizontal transport position, the spacers automatically protect the valves and plugs from mechanical forces, resolving the contradiction between handling ease and protection
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transport arrangement (1), in particular for the transport of uranium hexafluoride UF6. The invention further relates to an outer container (20) for such a transport arrangement (1). The transport arrangement (1) comprises: - an inner container (10), wherein the inner container (10) has a first inner container end wall (11), a second inner container end wall (12) opposite the first inner container end wall (11) in a longitudinal direction (X) of the inner container (10), and an inner container shell (13) extending between the first inner container end wall (11) and the second inner container end wall (12); - a multi-part outer container (20) accommodating the inner container (10), wherein the multi-part outer container (20) has a lower shell (30) with a lower shell section, and wherein the outer container (20) has an upper shell (40, 50) formed in at least two parts.