Manufacturing methods for fabricating nuclear waste canisters used to store spent nuclear fuel assemblies are disclosed to mitigate stress corrosion cracking. The method may generally comprise providing one or more stainless steel sheets used to form a shell of the canister. The shell comprises open butt joints which are welded closed via full shell thickness type welds of preferably narrow profile. The welds and adjoining heat affect zone may then be subjected to mechanical through-thickness compaction, which converts a residual tensile stress field in the shell base material adjoining the weld to a compressive stress field for a full thickness of the shell. The crown of the external exposed portion of the weld is flattened by the compaction and may be coplanar with the exterior surface of the shell. Surface peening may optionally be performed on the welded zone after compaction.

Manufacturing methods for fabricating nuclear waste canisters used to store spent nuclear fuel assemblies are disclosed to mitigate stress corrosion cracking. The method may generally comprise providing one or more stainless steel sheets used to form a shell of the canister. The shell comprises open butt joints which are welded closed via full shell thickness type welds of preferably narrow profile. The welds and adjoining heat affect zone may then be subjected to mechanical through-thickness compaction, which converts a residual tensile stress field in the shell base material adjoining the weld to a compressive stress field for a full thickness of the shell. The crown of the external exposed portion of the weld is flattened by the compaction and may be coplanar with the exterior surface of the shell. Surface peening may optionally be performed on the welded zone after compaction.

Vial containers including a collar which is attached to a vial or incorporated into a vial cap, a cap designed to receive a portion of the collar while covering the vial, and a container designed to receive a portion of the collar and encase the body of the vial are described herein. The collar, generally, includes a means for reversibly attaching to the cap and container.

A device for radioactivity counting and characterization for a solution. The device includes a container having at least two recesses, a first recess for receiving a vial and a second recess for receiving a radioactivity sensor, a radioactivity sensor having a semiconductor sensor presenting a cone of detection directed to the first recess of the container for receiving a vial, a removable closure element, an armored cover around the container and its upper face, the upper face of the armored cover having an opening for introducing the vial into the container and a plate for supporting the device.

A device for radioactivity counting and characterization for a solution. The device includes a container having at least two recesses, a first recess for receiving a vial and a second recess for receiving a radioactivity sensor, a radioactivity sensor having a semiconductor sensor presenting a cone of detection directed to the first recess of the container for receiving a vial, a removable closure element, an armored cover around the container and its upper face, the upper face of the armored cover having an opening for introducing the vial into the container and a plate for supporting the device.

A container for holding radioactive waste has a side wall, a floor connected to a lower end of the side wall, and a cover. A set of side-wall formations is provided at an upper end of the side wall and on an inner surface of the side wall, and a set of cover-edge formations is distributed around an outer edge of the cover and fittable with the side-wall formations. Thus, as a result of the interfitting of cover-edge formations with the side-wall formations, the cover can be or is fixedly connected to the side wall without welds.

A container for holding radioactive waste has a side wall, a floor connected to a lower end of the side wall, and a cover. A set of side-wall formations is provided at an upper end of the side wall and on an inner surface of the side wall, and a set of cover-edge formations is distributed around an outer edge of the cover and fittable with the side-wall formations. Thus, as a result of the interfitting of cover-edge formations with the side-wall formations, the cover can be or is fixedly connected to the side wall without welds.

Seal between mutually fixed surfaces comprises a metal ring, placed between graphite layers, where sections of the metal ring to be coated with graphite have a jagged profile. Both sides of the metal ring are coated with graphite in such a way that graphite layers and the metal ring form a seamless whole. Recesses are made in the seal on both sides between graphite rings, a hole is placed in their centre.

Reusable transporters for removable housing of radioactive materials and configured for safely containing the radioactive materials during transportation operations of the transporters are described. A given transporter may have at least four layers, an outermost structural-jacket, an innermost liner, a containment layer, and a radiation shielding layer. The structural-jacket is made from strong materials like steel and/or titanium, but not stainless steel. The containment layer and/or the radiation shielding layer may have one or more sub-layers. The containment layer is stretchable and designed to completely enclose the internally stored radioactive materials even in the event of a serious impact event to the overall transporter. The radioactive materials are removably stored within an inner cavity of the transporter, within the liner. The inner cavity may be accessible from at least one terminal end of the transporter. The at least one terminal end is removably closeable via use of closure means.

Reusable transporters for removable housing of radioactive materials and configured for safely containing the radioactive materials during transportation operations of the transporters are described. A given transporter may have at least four layers, an outermost structural-jacket, an innermost liner, a containment layer, and a radiation shielding layer. The structural-jacket is made from strong materials like steel and/or titanium, but not stainless steel. The containment layer and/or the radiation shielding layer may have one or more sub-layers. The containment layer is stretchable and designed to completely enclose the internally stored radioactive materials even in the event of a serious impact event to the overall transporter. The radioactive materials are removably stored within an inner cavity of the transporter, within the liner. The inner cavity may be accessible from at least one terminal end of the transporter. The at least one terminal end is removably closeable via use of closure means.