MACHINE FOR HANDLING IRRADIATED FUEL ASSEMBLIES IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, IN PARTICULAR A FAST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

摘要

The machine is of the type comprising: - a travelling crane 200, which can move along a first longitudinal direction X, - a carriage 300 carried by this travelling crane, which can move along a second transverse direction Y, so that this carriage can be positioned above each individual fuel assembly stored in the pit, - a telescopic mast 400 carried by the carriage, comprising at its lower end a gripper 410 for gripping an individual fuel assembly, this gripper being mobile along a third vertical direction Z, in order to extract or place the fuel assembly from or in a respective rack location 100. According to the invention, the carriage also comprises a tubular hood 500 made of a radiation-protection material, forming a continuous sidewall surrounding the unit formed by the mast, the gripper and the assembly, and extending upwards at least as far as a height making it possible to have, at the surface of the layer of water in the pit and above this level, a level of radiation less than the biologically acceptable level at this location. IMAGE