IP Library Granted Patent US 12,170,151
Granted Patent B2
US 12,170,151 · App. 17/703,689 · Granted Dec 17, 2024

Collision protection slab above spent fuel pool

Inventor: Yusuke Shimizu (Hitachi, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
G21C19/07G21C19/32G21C19/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,170,151
App. No.
17/703,689
Granted
Dec 17, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A reactor building includes a spent fuel pool, spent fuel racks, and traveling rails. The spent fuel racks are located in the spent fuel pool and are configured to store nuclear spent fuel. A protection slab is located above the spent fuel racks. The traveling rails are fixed to a lower surface of the protection slab. The rails are parallel to each other. The spent fuel racks are located between the rails. A fuel transfer machine is suspended from the rails.

Claims (37)

1. A reactor building, comprising:

a spent fuel pool;

spent fuel racks located in the spent fuel pool and configured to store spent fuel;

a protection slab located above the spent fuel racks; and

traveling rails fixed to a lower surface of the protection slab, wherein

the traveling rails are parallel to each other, and

the spent fuel racks being located between the traveling rails.

2. The reactor building according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a fuel switching stand fixed inside the spent fuel pool;

a fuel handling machine configured to take out a spent fuel in a reactor and move the taken-out spent fuel to the fuel switching stand; and

a fuel transfer machine movably provided in the spent fuel pool and configured to move, to the spent fuel racks, the spent fuel moved to the fuel switching stand.

3. The reactor building according to claim 2 , wherein

the fuel transfer machine has a traversing rail connected to the traveling rails.

4. The reactor building according to claim 2 , wherein

on a bottom slab of the spent fuel pool, the fuel switching stand is fixed to a first bottom slab located adjacent to a reactor well.

5. The reactor building according to claim 4 , wherein

on the bottom slab of the spent fuel pool, the spent fuel racks are fixed to a second bottom slab lower in height than the first bottom slab.

6. The reactor building according to claim 2 , further comprising:

an operating deck, wherein

the protection slab is connected to the operating deck, and an upper surface of the protection slab is a part of the operating deck.

7. The reactor building according to claim 2 , wherein

a fuel switching opening is provided at a portion of the protection slab located above the fuel switching stand.

8. The reactor building according to claim 7 , wherein

the fuel switching opening is provided at an end portion of the protection slab on a reactor side, and

the spent fuel racks are arranged below the protection slab.

9. The reactor building according to claim 6 , wherein

a reactor well,

a reactor well opening is provided in the operating deck above the reactor well,

a fuel switching opening is provided at a portion of the protection slab located above the fuel switching stand, and

the reactor well opening and the fuel switching opening are connected to each other.

10. The reactor building according to claim 4 , wherein

a fuel switching opening is provided at a portion of the protection slab located above the fuel switching stand, and

an area of the fuel switching opening is smaller than an area of the first bottom slab.

11. The reactor building according to claim 2 , wherein

a lower portion of the fuel switching stand is embedded in a bottom slab of the spent fuel pool.

12. The reactor building according to claim 2 , wherein

an openable sidewall is provided at an upper portion of the fuel switching stand.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
To: HITACHI GE VERNOVA NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 074188/0822 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2022
From: SHIMIZU, YUSUKE
To: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGRY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060269/0858 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-051566 · Mar 25, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220310279A1 · Sep 29, 2022