Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package; an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22); an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts, the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel.

Abstract: A packaging device for the transport and/or storage of a radioactive medium generating flammable gases and/or explosives via radiolysis, comprising a plurality of canisters intended to contain the radioactive medium, each canister defining an inner storage space accessible via an opening for filling the medium, on which plug-forming means are mounted. According to the invention, the device also comprises a structure forming a chamber, and means for placing in communication allowing a fluid communication to be set up between the inner storage space and the chamber.

Abstract: A storage rack for nuclear fuel assemblies, comprising a rigid structure defining a plurality of adjacent cells, and comprising in each cell a sleeve defining a cavity intended to receive a nuclear fuel assembly, the sleeve having, in cross-sectional orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a generally polygonal shape whereof the sides are produced using plates made from a neutron-absorbing material. According to the invention, the sleeve also includes: profiles each forming a corner piece, arranged on at least several angles of the generally polygonal cross-section, these profiles serving as a mounting bracket for the plates made of a neutron-absorbing material; and a structure for maintaining the profiles therebetween.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cask for a canister containing radioactive material, comprising a canister extraction assembly and designed so that it can bring the canister to an extraction position inside the cask housing in which this canister is free of any contact with the inner surface. Also, one of two elements from among a carriage and a support structure of the assembly is provided with a guide ramp cooperating with a ramp follower provided on the other of the two elements, the ramp being designed so that a relative translational movement between the carriage and the structure, in the longitudinal direction of the cask, causes the changeover of the two elements from a drawn-together position to a drawn-apart position, or conversely.

Abstract: A canister for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, the canister comprising two concentric shells between which is housed a radiological protection device comprising at least a first and a second metal components adjacent along a circumferential direction. According to the invention, the first component is supported against the outer shell and at a distance from the inner shell, whereas the second component is supported against the shell and at a distance from the shell. In addition, the components are in contact with each other along an interface taking, in section along any plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and crossing this interface, the form of a straight line segment defining with a radial straight line crossing it at its centre an acute angle (A).

Abstract: A long-term storage facility has an array of storage packages receiving respective cases containing radioactive materials. Each storage package has a lateral body delimiting a housing for receiving a case, the package body being closed at its top end and at its low end respectively by a removable head cover, and by a package base. The package base has a removable base cover, allowing insertion of the case via the low end of the body. The packages can be moved inside the facility by a mechanical lift. The facility includes a pivoting frame for swinging a storage package from a horizontal orientation in which the storage package is loaded to a vertical position in which the storage package is stored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package; an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22); an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts, the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel.

Abstract: A device for trapping flammable gases such as hydrogen comprises active means (3) inside a casing (1) which is closed except for openings which are plugged by filters (2) that normally allow only the gases that are to be trapped to pass through them. The trapping maintains a reduced pressure inside the casing, which continually draws in the gases produced outside. The trap can operate without any maintenance and for long periods of time, even in a completely enclosed environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a long-term storage device (1) intended to receive a containment case (3) containing radioactive materials, where this device includes a main body (2) having an inner surface delimiting a housing (7). According to the invention, in an unloaded configuration, in which the containment case containing radioactive materials is absent from the storage device, the latter includes a storage case (9) delimiting a cavity (4) to receive the containment case, where the storage device also includes ventilation means allowing air to circulate between the exterior of the storage device and a space delimited between the inner surface of the main body and the storage case (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a package (2) for the transport and/or storage of radioactive materials, including a lateral body (10) which defines a cavity (6) for housing radioactive materials which extends along a longitudinal axis (8), where the body (10) includes an interior wall (22) together with an exterior wall (22) which between them define a space (14) which extends around said longitudinal axis (8), where said space houses means of radiological protection (18) as well as means of thermal conduction (16). According to the invention, the means of thermal conduction includes multiple thermal conduction elements (31) each defining internally a void which extends lengthways in a direction of conduction (36) which runs from the interior wall (20) towards the exterior wall (22).

Abstract: A removable storage device intended to be housed in a cavity of a form of packaging for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, including several substructures movable relative to one another, positioned around a longitudinal axis, and defining multiple adjacent recesses for radioactive materials, together with means for deployment of the substructures including actuation means acting by shape collaboration on the substructures through a bearing surface having, in a section according to any plane passing through longitudinal axis, the shape of a segment inclined relative to this axis, such that displacement of actuation means in a first direction parallel to longitudinal axis causes a displacement of the substructures radially towards the exterior relative to longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials (10), comprising a closed enclosure (8) and a system (12, 16) for securing said closed enclosure, said system comprising catalytic means (12) for recombining hydrogen and oxygen into water, placed in said closed enclosure. According to the invention, the system for securing said closed enclosure further comprises a device (16) for the controlled release of oxygen in said closed enclosure (8).

Abstract: A method for underwater packaging of radioactive materials includes creating a vacuum in a cavity of a cleaning device to automatically cause a portion of the cleaning device to move upward to actuate the cleaning device from an open position to a closed position; mounting the cleaning device inside a safe containment area of a transportation and/or storage device; placing the transportation and/or storage device in a pool after filling the safe containment area with water; loading a radioactive material into the safe containment area; closing the transportation and/or storage device using at least one cover; extracting the transportation and/or storage device from the pool; draining the water inside the safe containment area; and creating a pressure differential in the safe containment area to dry the safe containment area, wherein the pressure differential causes the cleaning device to automatically actuate from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A packaging device for the transport and/or storage of a radioactive medium generating flammable gases and/or explosives via radiolysis, comprising a plurality of canisters intended to contain the radioactive medium, each canister defining an inner storage space accessible via an opening for filling the medium, on which plug-forming means are mounted. According to the invention, the device also comprises a structure forming a chamber, and means for placing in communication allowing a fluid communication to be set up between the inner storage space and the chamber.

Abstract: A canister for transporting/storing radioactive materials, comprising two concentric shells between which is housed a radiological protection device forming a barrier against gamma radiation, comprising a first and a second metal radiological protection components superimposed along a radial direction of the canister, the first component being supported against the outer shell and the second component being supported against the inner shell. In addition, the components are in contact with each other along an interface taking, in section along any plane integrating the longitudinal axis, the form of a straight line segment inclined in relation to this axis.

Abstract: A canister for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, the canister comprising two concentric shells between which is housed a radiological protection device comprising at least a first and a second metal components adjacent along a circumferential direction. According to the invention, the first component is supported against the outer shell and at a distance from the inner shell, whereas the second component is supported against the shell and at a distance from the shell. In addition, the components are in contact with each other along an interface taking, in section along any plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and crossing this interface, the form of a straight line segment defining with a radial straight line crossing it at its centre an acute angle (A).

Abstract: Methods and devices for removing inflammable gases produced by radiolysis in a closed chamber containing radioactive matters comprising organic compounds and possibly water, or radioactive matters in the presence of organic compounds and possibly water. Inside the chamber there may be placed a catalyst of at least one reaction for oxidizing the inflammable gases by oxygen contained in the chamber atmosphere, supported by an inert solid support; a catalyst of at least the reaction for oxidizing CO to CO2; possibly an oxygen source; and possibly a hygroscopic microporous inert solid support. Also, chambers for radioactive matters containing such devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring device (20) of the position of an assembly containing nuclear fuel (4) in a housing of a storage basket (2). According to the invention, it comprises at least one mobile stop device (24, 26, 28) and a position indicator (30) suitable for being held at a stop by the mobile stop device in a first position indicating that the assembly occupies a first position, said mobile stop device being arranged so as to be able to be placed, by means of contact with the assembly located in a second position in its housing, in a position enabling it to release the position indicator devised to move automatically from the first position to a second position indicating that the assembly occupies the second position.

Abstract: A storage rack for nuclear fuel assemblies, comprising a rigid structure defining a plurality of adjacent cells, and comprising in each cell a sleeve defining a cavity intended to receive a nuclear fuel assembly, the sleeve having, in cross-sectional orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a generally polygonal shape whereof the sides are produced using plates made from a neutron-absorbing material. According to the invention, the sleeve also includes: profiles each forming a corner piece, arranged on at least several angles of said generally polygonal cross-section, these profiles serving as a mounting bracket for the plates made of a neutron-absorbing material; and a means for maintaining the profiles therebetween.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a package for the transport and/or storage of nuclear materials, where the package includes an inner ferrule, an outerferrule and means of thermal conduction, and where the method includes: the construction of an essentially circular casing having at least one lengthways slit defined by two facing lengthways edges; and the welding of the facing lengthways edges, in order to obtain the outer ferrule, where this step is accomplished such that the welding shrinkage causes a compression stress of the means of thermal conduction between the ferrules, in a radial direction, and such that each welding bead only fastens the two edges which it links one on to the other.