DEVELOPMENT OF A SEALING-BOLT FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF LARGE CONTAINERS SUCH AS MULTIELEMENT B O T T L E S

A preliminary study on the development of a \"Seal ing-Bolt\" is currently being carried out at JRC-Ispra. It is required for the safeguarding of large containers. A \"Sealing-Bolt\" would replace one - or more - of the conventional bolts, normally used for tightening a container's cover. It could not be removed - or unscrewed - without the knowledge of Inspectors. Thus, it has to meet the requirements of an Underwater Verifiable Seal and of a Threaded Stud-Bolt. It is proposed to derive the sealing feature from the VAK III seal, a LWR Fuel Assembly Ultrasonic Seal which has been developed by JRC-Ispra and is field tested at the Kahl Reactor Facility (FRG) since October 1983, while under evaluation for use by IAEA. The mechanical part asks for a specific study of a reliable system able to evidence that the bolt has been unscrewed during an opening of the lid.