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 spent nuclear fuel storage bridge comprising either a stationary or mobile structure supported from the walls of a spent nuclear fuel storage pool. The structure may have either a pivotally mounted or non-pivotally mounted lower basket or cage portion which occupies a region of the vertical space between the pool water surface and the existing pool floor supported fuel storage racks. Using the bridge, at least a ten-foot deep barrier of biological shield water and at least a two-foot space between the top of the existing racks and the bottom of the bridge can be maintained in a storage pool of typical geometrics and dimensions. By limiting the height of the basket portion of the bridge, up to a three-foot space beneath the biological shield water may be provided to accommodate underwater horizontal transference of spent fuel storage canisters to and from the bridge. The width of the basket portion is determined by the spent fuel length and the resulting storage canister length.

Abstract: An automatic compactor enhancement reduces the volume of compactable low-level radioactive wastes and transfers the reduced wastes to a nearby waste compactor. The wastes are shredded by a primary shredder assembly and a secondary shredder assembly. The system employs a pressure-controlled enclosure means to house the shredder assemblies and to control the release of wastes to the environment. A number of safety features are integrated into the system to enhance the operational safety of the system.