An air-cooled condenser system for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle includes an air cooled condenser having a plurality of interconnected modular cooling cells. A method for forming an axial flow baffle for a shell and tube heat exchanger includes providing a baffle workpiece, locating a centerpoint of a first axial flow tube aperture, drilling flow holes around the centerpoint of the flow aperture, and drilling a central tube hole at the centerpoint. A method of cooling high level waste includes surrounding a cask comprising an external surface and an internal storage cavity containing the high level radioactive waste which emits heat with a cooling water header; and discharging cooling water radially inwards from the cooling water header onto the external surface of the cask from the plurality of water dispensing outlets arranged on the cooling water header.

A neutron absorber apparatus for use in restoring reactivity control to a nuclear fuel rack. The apparatus comprises an elongated tubular insert assembly configured for insertion in a storage cell of the rack. First and second absorber plates, each formed of a boron-containing material, are coupled together by upper and lower stiffening bands at the insert extremities and form a longitudinally-extending cavity configured for receiving a fuel assembly. The absorber plates and stiffening bands may have a rectilinear cross sectional configuration in one embodiment. At least one elastically deformable locking protrusion mounted proximate to the lower end of the absorber plates lockingly engages an available lower edge disposed in the cell sidewall above its bottom end. This fixes the tubular insert axially in the cell, thereby preventing its withdrawal after installing the insert. In one embodiment, the edge may be the bottom of existing absorber sheathing in the cell.

A neutron absorber apparatus for use in restoring reactivity control to a nuclear fuel rack. The apparatus comprises an elongated tubular insert assembly configured for insertion in a storage cell of the rack. First and second absorber plates, each formed of a boron-containing material, are coupled together by upper and lower stiffening bands at the insert extremities and form a longitudinally-extending cavity configured for receiving a fuel assembly. The absorber plates and stiffening bands may have a rectilinear cross sectional configuration in one embodiment. At least one elastically deformable locking protrusion mounted proximate to the lower end of the absorber plates lockingly engages an available lower edge disposed in the cell sidewall above its bottom end. This fixes the tubular insert axially in the cell, thereby preventing its withdrawal after installing the insert. In one embodiment, the edge may be the bottom of existing absorber sheathing in the cell.

A device for storing dangerous materials includes a mount supporting a containment enclosure for containing dangerous materials. The mount includes a frame surmounted by support members that support the enclosure, each support member including a first element secured to the mount and a second element for supporting the enclosure and that is mounted so as to be movable relative to the first element in a substantially vertical sliding direction. The mount includes at least one impact absorber interposed between the two elements, the at least one impact absorber preventing relative movement between the two elements so long as a force applied to the at least one impact absorber by the two elements is no greater than a predetermined threshold. The at least one impact absorber deforms plastically so as to allow the two elements to move relative to each other.

A device for storing dangerous materials includes a mount supporting a containment enclosure for containing dangerous materials. The mount includes a frame surmounted by support members that support the enclosure, each support member including a first element secured to the mount and a second element for supporting the enclosure and that is mounted so as to be movable relative to the first element in a substantially vertical sliding direction. The mount includes at least one impact absorber interposed between the two elements, the at least one impact absorber preventing relative movement between the two elements so long as a force applied to the at least one impact absorber by the two elements is no greater than a predetermined threshold. The at least one impact absorber deforms plastically so as to allow the two elements to move relative to each other.

A system for storing nuclear fuel assemblies includes a plurality of cells housed within a support structure. A first cell may house a first fuel assembly and a second cell may house a second fuel assembly. A plurality of compartments separate the plurality of cells and provide passageways for coolant entering a bottom end of the support structure to remove heat from the nuclear fuel assemblies. A first perforation transfers coolant between the first cell and one or more of the compartments, and a second perforation transfers coolant between the second cell and the one or more compartments. At least a portion of the coolant entering the bottom end of the support structure is transferred between the plurality of cells and the plurality of compartments. Two or more fuel storage racks may be stacked together in alternating fuel patterns to facilitate cooling the fuel assemblies with liquid or air.

A system for storing nuclear fuel assemblies includes a plurality of cells housed within a support structure. A first cell may house a first fuel assembly and a second cell may house a second fuel assembly. A plurality of compartments separate the plurality of cells and provide passageways for coolant entering a bottom end of the support structure to remove heat from the nuclear fuel assemblies. A first perforation transfers coolant between the first cell and one or more of the compartments, and a second perforation transfers coolant between the second cell and the one or more compartments. At least a portion of the coolant entering the bottom end of the support structure is transferred between the plurality of cells and the plurality of compartments. Two or more fuel storage racks may be stacked together in alternating fuel patterns to facilitate cooling the fuel assemblies with liquid or air.

A spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a submersible pressure vessel including a casing that defines an interior cavity, the casing including a corrosion resistant and heat conductive material and a rack enclosed within the interior cavity and configured to support one or more spent nuclear fuel rods. The spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a heat exchanger attached to the casing of the pressure vessel.

A spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a submersible pressure vessel including a casing that defines an interior cavity, the casing including a corrosion resistant and heat conductive material and a rack enclosed within the interior cavity and configured to support one or more spent nuclear fuel rods. The spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a heat exchanger attached to the casing of the pressure vessel.

A neutron absorber apparatus for use in restoring reactivity control to a nuclear fuel rack. The apparatus comprises an elongated tubular insert assembly configured for insertion in a storage cell of the rack. First and second absorber plates, each formed of a boron-containing material, are coupled together by upper and lower stiffening bands at the insert extremities and form a longitudinally-extending cavity configured for receiving a fuel assembly. The absorber plates and stiffening bands may have a rectilinear cross sectional configuration in one embodiment. At least one elastically deformable locking protrusion mounted proximate to the lower end of the absorber plates lockingly engages an available lower edge disposed in the cell sidewall above its bottom end. This fixes the tubular insert axially in the cell, thereby preventing its withdrawal after installing the insert. In one embodiment, the edge may be the bottom of existing absorber sheathing in the cell.