Development of Basket for Transport/Storage Cask using Square Tube made of Aluminium Alloy containing Neutron Absorbing Materials

The basket of transport/storage cask must have a structural strength at any temperature expected during storage and transport condition, and must satisfy each function of sub-criticality and heat removal. It is also preferable to increase the number of fuel assemblies in the cask and to reduce the manufacturing cost. The use of aluminium alloy for the basket is preferable because of its high thermal conductivity in order to improve heat removal. Aluminium alloy is lightweight and it is more effective to improve the capacity. The conventional design of aluminium basket had a combination of square tubes, which have structural strength and heat removal function, and the neutron absorption material with high concentration of boron. The developed basket has square tube shape containing neutron absorption materials that has both functions of heat removal and sub-criticality. It is an effective way to improve the storage capacity of fuel assemblies and it is also easy to be assembled.