A recovery tool for recovering a solid element, in particular a radioactive material. The recovery tool includes a chassis, a capture head and at least one cup. The capture head is movable with respect to the chassis between a retracted position and a deployed position. In the retracted position, the capture head is accommodated within a chamber of the recovery tool. In the deployed position, the capture head is able to capture the solid element. The cup is movable with respect to the chassis between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the cup allows the capture head to be deployed. In the closed position of the cup, the cup allows the solid element to be retained within the chamber with the capture head in the retracted position.

A nuclear fuel storage system comprises a fuel rack immersible in a fuel pool which comprises a baseplate and a cellular body extending from the baseplate. The body comprises plural cell walls arranged to define an array of upwardly open cells each configured to store a nuclear fuel assembly therein. A raised fuel assembly support ring may be disposed at the bottom of each cell on the baseplate to engage and support a fuel assembly. A neutron absorber insert disposed in at least one cell comprises a bottom end configured to frictionally engage the support ring to secure the neutron absorber insert therein. The absorber insert comprises resiliently deformable radial locking protrusions which frictionally engage an outward facing annular side surface of the support ring in one embodiment. The absorber insert may be retrofit into existing racks to restore reactivity control.

A nuclear fuel storage system comprises a fuel rack immersible in a fuel pool which comprises a baseplate and a cellular body extending from the baseplate. The body comprises plural cell walls arranged to define an array of upwardly open cells each configured to store a nuclear fuel assembly therein. A raised fuel assembly support ring may be disposed at the bottom of each cell on the baseplate to engage and support a fuel assembly. A neutron absorber insert disposed in at least one cell comprises a bottom end configured to frictionally engage the support ring to secure the neutron absorber insert therein. The absorber insert comprises resiliently deformable radial locking protrusions which frictionally engage an outward facing annular side surface of the support ring in one embodiment. The absorber insert may be retrofit into existing racks to restore reactivity control.

A system and method for removing spent fuel assemblies from a fuel building and transporting them to on-site facilities. A cask transporter is moved into the fuel building with an empty spent fuel storage cask, spent fuel assemblies are loaded into spent fuel storage cask, the cask is sealed, and the cask transporter moves the loaded spent fuel storage cask to a handling area for final disposal. Components of the system include a penetration cover, a lifting mechanism, a control system, a valve system, and the cask transporter.

A system and method for removing spent fuel assemblies from a fuel building and transporting them to on-site facilities. A cask transporter is moved into the fuel building with an empty spent fuel storage cask, spent fuel assemblies are loaded into spent fuel storage cask, the cask is sealed, and the cask transporter moves the loaded spent fuel storage cask to a handling area for final disposal. Components of the system include a penetration cover, a lifting mechanism, a control system, a valve system, and the cask transporter.

A nuclear plant manipulator system, including a manipulator with an image acquisition device and a remotely-controlled drive, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to capture image data, a remote-operating device is configured to remotely control the manipulator, an object counter is configured to be incremented or decremented, and an analysis device is configured to receive the image data captured by the image acquisition device and evaluate the received image data. The analysis device is configured to automatically identify respective known objects that are found along a path while the manipulator moves along the path. When a respective known object along the path is passed by the manipulator, the object counter is incremented or decremented depending on the direction of the manipulator along the path. A current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device.

A nuclear plant manipulator system, including a manipulator with an image acquisition device and a remotely-controlled drive, wherein the image acquisition device is configured to capture image data, a remote-operating device is configured to remotely control the manipulator, an object counter is configured to be incremented or decremented, and an analysis device is configured to receive the image data captured by the image acquisition device and evaluate the received image data. The analysis device is configured to automatically identify respective known objects that are found along a path while the manipulator moves along the path. When a respective known object along the path is passed by the manipulator, the object counter is incremented or decremented depending on the direction of the manipulator along the path. A current value of the object counter is provided to the remote-operating device.

The invention relates to a nuclear facility pool cleaning device having a floating platform, capable of floating in water, having buoyancy bodies; a drive device for displacing the floating platform on the surface of a water-filled nuclear facility pool to be cleaned; a winching device connected to the floating platform; a pump which is winchable vertically by the winching device and has a vacuum hose, connected thereto at its first end, for cleaning the bottom of the nuclear facility pool; a remote control device for remotely operating at least the drive device and the winching device; an optional stationary external storage tank; and wherein the second end of the vacuum hose preferably leads at least indirectly into the stationary external storage tank.

The invention relates to a nuclear facility pool cleaning device having a floating platform, capable of floating in water, having buoyancy bodies; a drive device for displacing the floating platform on the surface of a water-filled nuclear facility pool to be cleaned; a winching device connected to the floating platform; a pump which is winchable vertically by the winching device and has a vacuum hose, connected thereto at its first end, for cleaning the bottom of the nuclear facility pool; a remote control device for remotely operating at least the drive device and the winching device; an optional stationary external storage tank; and wherein the second end of the vacuum hose preferably leads at least indirectly into the stationary external storage tank.

A method of handling spent nuclear fuel assemblies immerses the spent nuclear fuel assemblies in water in a relatively short time period when compared to traditional methods. A spent nuclear fuel assembly is removed from a nuclear reactor, an inert gas is applied to the fuel assembly, moisture content in the inert gas is gradually increased as it is applied to the fuel assembly, and the fuel assembly is immersed in water. The fuel assembly is immersed relatively quickly, within about 2 hours or less, which improves safety and allows normal processing and handling equipment to care for the fuel assembly. The fuel assembly may then be loaded into a cask for long-term storage and/or disposal.