Patent Number: 040428281
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the storage of nuclear fuel elements and more particularly to a rack for the storing of spent nuclear fuel elements in a pool for a nuclear power plant. Heretofore, racks for nuclear fuel elements were formed from standard members, such as angle bars, I-beams, T-shaped members and channel members. Such racks were manufactured by General Electric Company, Combustion Engineering Company, Inc., PAR Systems, Speedway Machine and Tool Co., Inc., and others. Racks in which upright enclosures have fuel elements disposed therein and which form pockets for receiving high neutron absorbers are disclosed in a patent application filed by Herbert J. Rubinstein, et al., Ser. No. 595,444, filed July 11, 1975, for Rack For Storing Spent Fuel Elements and in a patent application filed by Herbert J. Rubinstein, et al., Ser. No. 612,533, filed Sept. 11, 1975, for Rack For Storing Spent Nuclear Fuel Elements. The assignee of the present application is also the assignee of the aforementioned patent applications. The fuel racks sold by PAR, Programmed and Remote Systems Corp., of St. Paul, Minn. appear to employ jacks for the leveling of racks storing spent nuclear fuel elements, which appear to be disposed at the four corners of the rack. In pools for nuclear power plants, the floor thereof is generally uneven due to the unevenness of the pool liner or the concrete floor below the pool liner. Notwithstanding, it is essential that the spent fuel elements in the rack be maintained in an upright position. Thus, the spent fuel elements preferably should not rest directly on the floor of the pool, since the floor of the pool is generally uneven. Additionally, the racks with the enclosures installed herein may have a tendency to be damaged during transportation and also are rather cumbersome to ship. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rack for storing spent nuclear fuel elements in a pool for a nuclear power plant comprising a frame with upright enclosures for containing spent nuclear fuel elements. Each upright spent fuel element rests on a support which is disposed on the floor of the pool, while the frame retains the enclosure for the spent fuel element in the upright position. A feature of the present invention is that there is an individual support for each fuel element. Another feature of the present invention is that the support for each fuel element is self-aligning. Another feature of the present invention is that the open rack frame rests on adjustable supports. By virtue of the present invention, the spent fuel elements contained by the enclosures are supported in an upright position regardless of the uneven contour of the floor of the pool. The load of the fuel element is applied to the floor of the pool through the respective support, while the open rack frame does not bear any of the direct load of the fuel element. The open rack frame merely retains the enclosures in the upright position. The spent fuel rack of the present invention can be shipped with facility and erected at point of installation. At the destination, the enclosures can be installed. Thus, damage during shipment has been reduced. By being of lighter weight, there is a lesser tendency for parts to be damaged. Another feature of the present invention is the arrangement for securing frames together for obviating the need for welding or bolting without sacrificing rigidity.