US 11,670,430 B2
Nuclear fuel storage system with integral shimming
Krishna P. Singh, Jupiter, FL (US)
Assigned to HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL
Filed by HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, Camden, NJ (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/569,977.
Application 17/569,977 is a continuation of application No. 17/115,005, filed on Dec. 8, 2020, granted, now 11,289,229.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/945,587, filed on Dec. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0157481 A1, May 19, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G21F 5/015 (2006.01); G21F 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC G21F 5/015 (2013.01) [G21F 5/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming a structurally reinforcing a fuel basket of a nuclear fuel storage system, the method comprising:
providing a fuel basket comprising a plurality of vertically stacked and interlocked slotted plates, the slotted plates collectively defining pluralities of vertical exterior sidewalls and vertically-elongated interior storage cells each of which is configured to hold a fuel assembly comprising spent nuclear fuel, a plurality of lateral plate extensions formed by end portions of slotted plates, the plate extensions protruding laterally outward beyond the exterior sidewalls of the fuel basket;
fixedly coupling a plurality of vertically elongated reinforcement members to the plate extensions; and
inserting the fuel basket with coupled reinforcement members into an upwardly cavity of a cylindrical nuclear fuel storage canister.