Patent Number: 045434883
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ON THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic end view of an basket for breeder fuel elements according to the present invention. The basket includes spent fuel receiving steel tubes 1 which are located in apertures 11 formed in a steel plate 2. One or more steel plates 2 may be employed and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the basket to surround the steel tubes 1 at spaced points. The steel tubes 1 and plates 2 form a steel framework about which is cast a metallic material 3 of non-ferrous metal such as aluminum. The slot 4 in the block 3 and the plates 2 serve for orientation of the basket within the cavity of a container (not shown). The centering pins 5 are necessary if the basket is assembled with two or more plates 2 to align the apertures 11 in the several plates. FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in end view where the basket has tubular inserts 7 which are square in cross-section and which are made of steel. On the left-hand side of FIG. 2, the size of the inserts 7 is shown as such that seventeen steel inserts for spent boiling water fuel elements can be placed within a cast circular mass or block 9 whereas on the right-hand side, the size of larger steel inserts 7 is shown as such that seven can be provided for receiving spent pressure water fuel elements. Between the square steel inserts 7, B.sub.4 C plates 8 are inserted as neutron absorbers in the block 9 which is, again, a non-ferrous metallic material or alloy such as aluminum, copper or alloys of these metals. The spent fuel is inserted into the interior 10 of the inserts 7. FIG. 3 shows a schematically a cross-section side view of the basket of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. The basket includes the steel tubes 1 and the steel plates 2 which align the tubes 1. The steel framework consisting of steel tubes 1 and plates 2 is cast about with a metallic material 3 of non-ferrous material as aluminum. The slot 4 is necessary to orientate the basket within the cavity of a container. The centering pins 5 serve for alignment of the apertures 11 if the basket is assembled with two or more plates 2 which are stacked over each other.