Abstract: Disclosed is a separation and receiving apparatus for a spent nuclear fuel rod. The spent nuclear fuel rod is mounted and downwardly transferred by a pin. At this time, a blade peels the hull of the spent nuclear fuel rod. The hull and a pellet positioned therein are separated by a separator. The peeled hull and pellet are each received in respective receiving vessels. Accordingly, since the hull and pellet made of uranium oxide (UO2) may be automatically separated and received in each respective vessel, safety and automation may be guaranteed.

Abstract: An internally expanding cutting device is used for severing large cylindraceous objects in two. The device comprises a spider mechanism in which a series of radially extending arms are attached to a central hub. The spider is arranged to be mounted on a base member so that the spider mechanism is free to rotate. A series of self propelled cutting wheels are mounted on the arms of the spider to allow the cutter wheels to contact the interior wall of the cylinder to be cut. The cutting wheels are arranged to drive the spider in a rotational manner while the cutter wheels are progressively pushed outwardly to deepen the cut. Each wheel follows in the track of the previous cutter wheel until the cylinder is severed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cutting up an element used in the construction of a nuclear installation for dismantling. The element is placed on a support and pushed toward a shearing tool having a blade pitch angle of 30.degree.. As the element is pushed, the blade performs a first shearing operation. Then a releasing stop controlled by a jack releases the element from the blade. Operation continues until the element is cut up.

Abstract: A process for improving packaging efficiency uses three dimensional, computer simulated models with various optimization algorithms to determine the optimal segmentation process and packaging configurations based on constraints including container limitations. The present invention is applied to a process for decontaminating, decommissioning (D&D), and remediating a nuclear facility involving the segmentation and packaging of contaminated items in waste containers in order to minimize the number of cuts, maximize packaging density, and reduce worker radiation exposure. A three-dimensional, computer simulated, facility model of the contaminated items are created. The contaminated items are differentiated. The optimal location, orientation and sequence of the segmentation and packaging of the contaminated items is determined using the simulated model, the algorithms, and various constraints including container limitations. The cut locations and orientations are transposed to the simulated model.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for removing radioactive material from a glovebox, placing the material in a stainless steel storage vessel in communication with the glovebox, and sealing the vessel with a welded plug. The vessel is then severed along the weld, a lower half of the plug forming a closure for the vessel. The remaining welded plug half provides a seal for the remnant portion of the vessel and thereby maintains the sealed integrity of the glovebox.

Abstract: A metal cutting motor driven saw blade carried by a housing structure for anchoring inside the fuel storage cell forms part of apparatus that is used in method to reduce the volume of radiologically contaminated metal racks after use for storing nuclear fuel assemblies under water in a storage pool. The motor driven saw is supported by a linear bearing that can be displaced by an actuator laterally with respect to a housing structure which is provided with piston and cylinder assemblies on two adjacent side walls to serve as releasable anchors. The linear actuator presses the saw blade against a side wall of a fuel storage cell causing part of a blade segment to penetrate the side wall. Thereafter, a drive shaft supported by bearings in the housing structure is rotated to displace the motor driven saw about a radial path of travel for severing the remaining portions of the wall of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for shredding and packing used structural elements of nuclear reactors, such as fuel assembly cases, comprises the steps of shredding structural elements to scrap pieces; flushing the scrap pieces in a transport container and flushing away highly radioactive particles of foreign matter and collecting the particles in the interior of the transport container; packing the flushed scrap pieces around the particles of foreign matter collected in the interior; and inserting the packed transport container into a sealable disposal container.

Abstract: An opener according to the invention comprises a vertical displacement mechanism for moving a capsule to a position in which the capsule is to be opened. The opener also includes a holding mechanism for holding the capsule, a cutting mechanism for cutting the capsule, and a casing. The cutting mechanism includes three roller cutters rotatably supported by a cutter holder by means of a pin. Each of the roller cutters is disposed so as to be rotated around the capsule and to be movable radially of the capsule for the purpose of cutting the capsule. The capsule, vertical displacement mechanism, holding mechanism and cutting mechanism are all contained in the casing and are actuated by a manipulator within the lead cell.

Abstract: The irradiated component (1) comprises at least one tubular wall with its axis vertical and fastened inside a well (2) in a concrete structure (3). The connecting elements between the concrete structure (3) and the component (1) are destroyed, the component (1) is displaced in successive steps in the vertical direction along its axis on the inside of the well (2), and the wall of the component is cut, so as to obtain blocks (26) of irradiated material of the wall, at the upper level of the well (2) of the concrete structure (3) after each displacement of the component (1). The cut blocks (26) are disposed of for the purpose of elimination or storage. The displacement of the component can be obtained by a pull or push on its lower bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for accessing hazardous materials stored in a container. The apparatus includes a base that is securely mountable to the container of hazardous materials. The base may include an assembly of clamps or an assembly of suction cups adaptable to containers of varying sizes and configurations. The frame is removably and adjustably mounted to the base. The frame includes plural gantries that are selectively movable toward or away from the base and the container to which the base is mounted. A tool is mounted to each gantry. A first tool is operative to perform work on the container, while the second tool is operative to position the first tool. The tools are powered and controlled from a remote location preferably by pneumatic power.

Abstract: The irradiated component (1) comprises at least one tubular wall with its axis vertical and fastened inside a well (2) in a concrete structure (3). The connecting elements between the concrete structure (3) and the component (1) are destroyed, the component (1) is displaced in successive steps in the vertical direction along its axis on the inside of the well (2), and the wall of the component is cut, so as to obtain blocks (26) of irradiated material of the wall, at the upper level of the well (2) of the concrete structure (3) after each displacement of the component (1). The cut blocks (26) are disposed of for the purpose of elimination or storage. The displacement of the component can be obtained by a pull or push on its lower bottom.

Abstract: A method of removing in-core instruments and dry tubes from a boiling water reactor during a refueling outage wherein a pair of temporary storage containers are provided in the reactor core. A remotely operated cutting device is superposed on the first temporary storage container. An instrument is suspended by an end, with the in-core part uppermost, and lowered until a portion of the out-of-core part is within the first temporary storage container. The cutting device is then operated to sever the instrument portion within the temporary storage container. The instrument is repeatedly lowered, and portions severed, until all of the out-of-core part of the instrument is in the first temporary container. The in-core part of the instrument is then lowered into the second temporary container and the two temporary containers are removed from the reactor cavity using the existing equipment-handling crane.

Abstract: The device comprises a support (9) provided with means (12) for its demountable fastening to the reactor structure (1) above and vertically in line with the component (3), a turret (10) mounted rotatably on the support (9) about its vertical axis, a device for taking up forces (11), on which the lower end of the turret (10) is mounted rotatably, an arm (18) mounted movably on the turret (10) in a radial direction, a first cutting unit (20) mounted on the movable arm (18), a trolley (25) mounted movably on the turret (10) in the vertical direction, a vertical second cutting unit mounted on the trolley (25) and a means for handling (30) fragments of the component (3).

Abstract: A flux thimble removal tool includes two basic units: a lower pulling unit 20 and a cutting/storage unit 22 which sits atop the lower pulling unit. Pulling unit 20 houses a gripper unit 30a, drive motor 68, gears 32, 66, helix drive shaft 40a, guide bar 26a, slide bar 24a, and guide tube 36, all of which are adapted to gradually extract neutron flux thimbles 38 one at a time from the reactor vessel 74 of a nuclear reactor, and to feed each thimble to the cutting/storage unit 22. The cutting/storage unit 32 further extracts the thimble, then severs the further extracted portion. The operation is continued until the thimble is fully extracted from the reactor vessel and reduced to a pile of easily-disposable segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for cutting irradiated fuel elements when in the horizontal position. A fuel element is placed on a support and presents a cross-section for cutting. The fuel element may be displaced along its longitudinal axis. In the immediate proximity of the cutting section, the fuel element is compressed by at least one side clamp, and between two cuts the side clamp(s) is/are unclamped, the fuel element is then advanced by a desired length, and the side clamp(s) is/are reclamped. The end pieces cut off by end piece cutters fall into a fixed end piece removal apparatus. The rods are cut up inside a cavity in such a manner as to confine the cut-off lengths therein, the cavity being provided with a bottom opening enabling the cut-off lengths to be removed and directed towards a fixed rod-removal apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the end pieces are cut off against the front face of the carriage which carries the rod-cutting blade.

Abstract: A saddle with two cutting stations, i.e., front and rear openings, moves forward and backward horizontally within a chassis. The rear opening includes a cutting blade. The chassis includes a front counter blade. A magazine holds a tube bundle and includes a rear face clamp and rear counter blade. In a first cutting operation, skirting at the base of the tube bundle is placed in the front opening and is cut by first moving the saddle rearward against the rear face clamp and rear counter blade, and then frontward against the front counter-blade. In a second cutting operation, the tube bundle is placed in the rear opening. As the saddle is moved frontward, the cutting blade in the rear opening cooperates with the front counter-blade on the chassis to cut the tubes. This second cutting operation is continued until the tubes are cut.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pusher placed in a magazine for irradiated fuel elements which allows displacement thereof for the cutting operations. The pusher according to the invention allows the displacement of elements of small section in a magazine of large section. At the end of a cutting operation, the pusher applies its blank against the auxiliary holding clamp forming a continuous surface and the element is pushed by a blade, the body of the pusher being immobilized.