US 12,340,911 B2
Fuel rack apparatus having storage tubes comprising interior flux trap chambers
Krishna P. Singh, Jupiter, FL (US); and P. Stefan Anton, Southampton, NJ (US)
Assigned to Holtec International
Filed by Holtec International, Camden, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,978.
Application 16/729,654 is a division of application No. 15/596,444, filed on May 16, 2017, granted, now 10,535,440, issued on Jan. 14, 2020.
Application 15/596,444 is a division of application No. 13/925,585, filed on Jun. 24, 2013, granted, now 9,685,248, issued on Jun. 20, 2017.
Application 17/981,978 is a continuation of application No. 17/088,960, filed on Nov. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,515,054.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/902,387, filed on Jun. 16, 2020, abandoned.
Application 16/902,387 is a continuation of application No. 15/689,571, filed on Aug. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,692,617, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Application 15/689,571 is a continuation of application No. 14/239,752, granted, now 9,748,009, issued on Aug. 29, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2012/051634, filed on Aug. 20, 2012.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/729,654, filed on Dec. 30, 2019, abandoned.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/973,966, filed on May 8, 2018, granted, now 11,017,908, issued on May 25, 2021.
Application 15/973,966 is a continuation of application No. 14/424,149, granted, now 9,991,010, issued on Jun. 5, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2013/057115, filed on Aug. 28, 2013.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/401,891, filed on May 2, 2019, granted, now 10,867,714, issued on Dec. 15, 2020.
Application 16/401,891 is a continuation of application No. 15/584,692, filed on May 2, 2017, granted, now 10,297,356, issued on May 21, 2019.
Application 15/584,692 is a continuation of application No. 14/912,754, granted, now 9,640,289, issued on May 2, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2015/027455, filed on Apr. 24, 2015.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/022,935, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/022,935 is a continuation of application No. 14/811,454, filed on Jul. 28, 2015, granted, now 10,037,826, issued on Jul. 31, 2018.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/584,892, filed on Sep. 26, 2019, abandoned.
Application 16/584,892 is a continuation of application No. 14/877,217, filed on Oct. 7, 2015, granted, now 10,468,145, issued on Nov. 5, 2019.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/871,221, filed on May 11, 2020, abandoned.
Application 16/871,221 is a continuation of application No. 14/935,221, filed on Nov. 6, 2015, granted, now 10,650,933, issued on May 12, 2020.
Application 17/088,960 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/513,815, filed on Jul. 17, 2019, granted, now 10,910,119, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Application 16/513,815 is a continuation of application No. 15/634,408, filed on Jun. 27, 2017, granted, now 10,418,137, issued on Sep. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/355,057, filed on Jun. 27, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/076,138, filed on Nov. 6, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/061,089, filed on Oct. 7, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/029,931, filed on Jul. 28, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/983,606, filed on Apr. 24, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/694,058, filed on Aug. 28, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/663,316, filed on Jun. 22, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/525,583, filed on Aug. 19, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0082771 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G21C 19/07 (2006.01); G21C 19/06 (2006.01); G21C 19/40 (2006.01); G21F 5/012 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 19/07 (2013.01) [G21C 19/06 (2013.01); G21C 19/40 (2013.01); G21F 5/012 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel rack apparatus for storing spent nuclear fuel, the fuel rack apparatus comprising:
a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a plurality of storage tubes coupled to and extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate, the storage tubes arranged in a side-by-side arrangement to form an array of the storage tubes, each of the storage tubes extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising:
an outer tube of rectangular cross-sectional shape having an inner surface defining an inner cavity enclosed on all sides for a majority of a height of the outer tube, the outer tube defining a longitudinal axis; and
an inner plate assemblage positioned within the outer tube that divides the inner cavity into a plurality of empty interior flux trap chambers and a fuel storage cell;
the inner plate assemblage comprising a pair of spaced apart chevron plates each forming a separate angled structure disposed in the outer tube and having a height which extends vertically for a majority of a height of the outer tube;
wherein the chevron plates in each outer tube are spaced apart from and do not contact each other;
wherein each of the chevron plates comprises a pair of angled wall plates which meet along a longitudinally-extending apex edge, and the outer tube comprises a plurality of straight wall plates arranged orthogonally to each other, each of the angled wall plates of each chevron plate being arranged obliquely to the straight wall plates of the outer tube;
wherein the pair of angled wall plates of each of the chevron plates comprises a first angled wall plate, a first neutron absorbing plate coupled to an outer surface of the first angled wall plate, a first outer sheath enclosing the first neutron absorbing plate, a second angled wall plate oriented at an oblique angle to the first angled wall plate, a second neutron absorbing plate coupled to an outer surface of the second angled wall plate, and a second outer sheath enclosing the first second neutron absorbing plate;
wherein the pair of chevron plates are arranged in each outer tube such that the fuel storage cell has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape which is collectively defined by the pair of chevron plates and a first opposing pair of the straight wall plates of the outer tube.