Packaging for transporting and storing radioactive materials, e.g. irradiated fuel assemblies, has removable handling device with holding journals for easy, removable mounting on packaging

摘要

In packaging (1) for radioactive materials, equipped with handling device(s) (14a, 14b) and having longitudinal end part(s) (1a, 1b) with first fixing holes (20a, 20b), where each handling device comprises a support (16a, 16b) with holding journals (12a, 12b) and second fixing holes (18a, 18b) and is mounted on the packaging, at least some second holes coincide with first holes and assembly bolts pass through at least some of the coinciding holes. Packaging (1) for radioactive materials (RM's) is equipped with handling device(s) (14a, 14b) and has a base (4), a lid (6) and a side part (2), extending around a longitudinal axis and having two longitudinal end parts (1a, 1b), at least one of which has first fixing holes (20a, 20b) with axes (22a, 22b) passing through the side part and parallel to the package axis. Each handling device comprises a support (16a, 16b) with holding journals (12a, 12b) and second fixing holes (18a, 18b), and is mounted on the packaging using assembling bolts. The novel feature is that at least some second holes coincide with at least some of the first holes, and the assembly bolts pass through at least some of the coinciding holes. Independent claims are included for: (1) a combination of the packaging (1) and handling device(s) (14a, 14b) as above, where the handling device(s) (14a, 14b) is/are separate from the packaging and to be mounted subsequently on the packaging; (2) a method for loading packaging (1) for RM's on a supporting structure for transporting the packaging, involving positioning the packaging on the supporting structure using the holding journal(s) (12a, 12b), where the process additionally involves removing the holding journals from the packaging positioned on the supporting structure; (3) a corresponding discharging method, in which before disengaging the packaging from the support, the holding journal(s) is/are mounted on the packaging positioned on the supporting structure; (4) a method for transporting packaging (1) for RM's, involving transporting the packaging on a vehicle after the preliminary stage of carrying out a loading method as above; and (5) a method for storing packaging containing RM's in a storage installation, in which the packaging is handled utilizing holding journals (12a) on the packaging to place the packing in the required location, where the process additionally involves removing the holding journals from the packaging in the storage location.