Neutron absorber systems and method for absorbing neutrons

Abstract

A neutron absorber system for a nuclear fuel storage rack includes a neutron absorber, which is adapted to attach to a plurality of cell walls of a cell of the nuclear fuel storage rack. The neutron absorber is adapted to elastically deform to cause the attaching. A system for inserting a neutron absorber into the nuclear fuel storage rack includes means for applying at least one stress to the neutron absorber and means for releasing the at least one stress to cause the neutron absorber to attach to the plurality of cell walls of the cell of the nuclear fuel storage rack.

1 . A neutron absorber system comprising: 
 a cell of a nuclear fuel storage rack having cell walls;    a neutron absorber having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion, said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion being elastically deformable toward each other in response to a stress being placed thereon, said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion having an angle therebetween greater than an angle between adjacent cell walls of said cell of said nuclear fuel storage rack in response to said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion being in an unstressed condition; and    said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion attached to the adjacent walls of the cell by a frictional fit between said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion and said adjacent walls caused by a release of the stress which elastically deformed said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said neutron absorber comprises a chevron shape.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cell angle is about ninety degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said cell walls are vertical walls of said nuclear fuel storage rack.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said neutron absorber further comprises a plurality of notches configured to engage an installation tool.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of notches is configured to receive the stress from said installation tool to cause the elastically deforming of said first longitudinal portion and said second longitudinal portion.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said plurality of notches is cooperatively engageable with said plurality of cell walls.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said neutron absorber comprises a first portion and a second portion connected by a third portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion comprise materials adapted to absorb neutrons and said third portion comprises a material which is elastically deformable in response to the stress.  
     
     
         9 . A method for absorbing neutrons comprising: 
 providing a nuclear fuel storage rack having a cell;    providing a neutron absorber having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion, the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion being elastically deformable toward each other in response to a stress being placed thereon, the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion having an angle therebetween greater than an angle between adjacent cell walls of the cell of the nuclear fuel storage rack in response to the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion being in an unstressed condition; and    attaching the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion to the adjacent walls of the cell by providing a stress to the neutron absorber to elastically deform the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion and releasing the stress to cause a frictional fit between the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion and the adjacent walls of the cell.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the neutron absorber comprises a chevron shape.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the cell angle is about ninety degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the cell walls are vertical walls of the nuclear fuel storage rack.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising engaging a plurality of notches of the neutron absorber with an installation tool.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the installation tool applying a stress to cause the elastically deforming of the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising engaging at least one of said plurality of notches with the plurality of cell walls.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the neutron absorber comprises a first portion and a second portion connected by a third portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise materials adapted to absorb neutrons and the third portion comprises a material which is elastically deformable, and wherein the providing the stress elastically deforms the third portion.