Case Study

Fuel transportation and storage containers

Hyde Group Nuclear was engaged to support the manufacture of containers for the transportation and long term storage of un-irradiated fuel elements from the Dounreay nuclear site on the north Scottish coast to the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria. The work was part of a a high profile package for a UK-wide program to consolidate fuel inventories.

Hyde Group Nuclear’s work involved the manufacture of thirty-two, three metre long fuel containers and a range of different furniture items and containers which, once loaded with fuel, would be loaded into the containers for transportation and storage.

One of the key challenges for the work was the fabrication process. Hyde Group Nuclear worked closely with the client to develop alternative weld preparations to ensure the ultimate closure weld could be undertaken remotely in cell, that it was repeatable and would satisfy the regulator for long-term storage.

Much of Hyde Group Nuclear’s work involved the machining and turning of container components, including the lid section, which incorporated a complicated thread for closing the container remotely once fuel had been fitted. There was also a lifting pintle to support handling within the fuel cave.

The work included the manufacture of three metre long hexagonal inserts and development of test pieces to support drop tests to help underpin the safety case.

A number of the fuel elements were to be transported within fabricated cans. Hyde Group Nuclear worked with the client to finalise the design for these cans and to manufacture the prototypes.