Sealed basket for boiling water reactor fuel assemblies

DETAILED DESCRIPTION To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a basket for transporting, storing, and containing nuclear fuel assemblies is provided having an assembly of sleeves with a plurality of sleeves arranged in a uniform pattern and secured within a cylindrical shell.
Each of the plurality of independent sleeves being sized to secure and contain a fuel assembly.
A plurality of alternating sleeves of the plurality of independent sleeves are configured to include an angular shaped separator element secured to each corner of each of the plurality of alternating sleeves.
A sheet of neutron absorbing material is positioned between each of the plurality of alternating sleeves for maintaining fission reactions within the basket below a critical level necessary to sustain a fission reaction.
A support element for positioning and securing the plurality of independent sleeves is secured within the cylindrical shell.
A bottom plate is secured to the bottom of the cylindrical shell providing vertical support for the plurality of independent sleeves.
A shield lid is secured to the cylindrical shell and includes a plurality of disc elements and an access port for selective entry into the basket and a lid element is secured to the shield lid and to the cylindrical shell.
The lid element includes an access port for selective entry into the basket.
There is also provided, in accordance with the invention a basket for a cask for transporting, storing, and containing nuclear fuel assemblies, comprising: an assembly of sleeves having a plurality of sleeves arranged in a uniform pattern and secured within a cylindrical shell.
Each of the plurality of independent sleeves being sized to secure and contain a fuel assembly; a plurality of alternating sleeves of the plurality of independent sleeves each being configured to include an angular shaped separator element secured to each corner of each of the plurality of alternating sleeves