Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a radiation detection vehicle with a directional radiation detection system. The radiation detection vehicle may include a body, a motor supported by the body and configured to propel the vehicle, at least a first power source connectable to the body and configured to provide power to the vehicle, and a directional radiation detection system supported by the body. The directional radiation detection system may include a radiation detector configured to detect incident radiation and a directional shielding assembly configured to partially shield the radiation detector by preventing a portion of the incident radiation originating from a first incident direction from reaching the radiation detector, the directional shielding assembly including the first power source.

Abstract: A fuel channel assembly for a nuclear reactor may include an inner conduit received within an outer conduit that has an outer upper end connectable to a coolant outlet and an outer lower end. The inner conduit may have an inner upper end connectable to a coolant source and an inner lower end axially spaced apart from the inner upper end and disposed within the outer conduit to enable coolant to circulate from the coolant source to the coolant outlet through both the inner and outer conduits. A fuel bundle chamber may be between an inner surface of the outer conduit and an outer surface of the inner conduit and may at least partially laterally surround the inner conduit. The fuel bundle chamber fluidly connecting the inner lower end and the outer upper end to enable the coolant to flow upward through the fuel bundle chamber.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel bundle may include a first end face and a second end face axially spaced apart from the first end face and a plurality of elongate nuclear fuel elements supported by at least one spacer. The plurality of fuel elements and spacer being sized to be removably received within the fuel channel assembly. A coolant tube passage may extend axially through the fuel bundle between a first aperture in the first end face and a second aperture in the second end face. The coolant tube passage sized to removably receive a coolant fluid downflow tube provided in the fuel channel assembly. The tube passage extending from the first end face to the second end face to enable the coolant fluid downflow tube to pass through the fuel bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the volume of a cylindrical tube for disposal by crushing flat and then shearing into small coupons. Shearing is accomplished by opposed dies having a checkerboard grid of cutting edges. The resulting coupons are preferably substantially square in shape. The invention is particularly useful for reducing the storage volume of irradiated radioactive pressure tubes from a nuclear reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the volume of a cylindrical tube for disposal by crushing flat and then shearing into small coupons. Shearing is accomplished by opposed dies having a checkerboard grid of cutting edges. The resulting coupons are preferably substantially square in shape. The invention is particularly useful for reducing the storage volume of irradiated radioactive pressure tubes from a nuclear reactor.