Patent Number: 042886988
Section: abstract

A container for the transport, storage and disposal of radioactive wastes or other materials, such as irradiated fuel elements of a nuclear reactor capable of neutron emission, which comprises a cast receptacle, e.g. of cast iron, a cover and, in passages spaced apart in the cast wall of the vessel, a neutron moderating or absorbing material. According to the invention, the passages are of circular cross section with a spacing at least equal to twice the diameter, and the total cross-sectional area of the passages in any plane transversely through the vessel corresponds to the cross section in the same plane of a continuous theoretical layer disposed along the periphery of a vessel of corresponding thickness and size or is greater than the area of the theoretical layer in this plane in so far as neutron absorption or moderation effect is concerned. The moderator passages thus provide a total volume which can correspond to the volume of the theoretical layer applied externally of the wall of the vessel and for a given moderator material will have the same moderation or absorption effect.