Recover Lost Storage Capacity and Regain Reactivity Control Using Holtec’s Patented DREAM Inserts
We are pleased to report that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent number 8,158,962B1 to Holtec’s engineers for the design and method of installing the DREAM (acronym for “Device For REActivity Mitigation”) insert technology for used fuel storage racks. The DREAM insert serves to replace the neutron attenuation function of the degraded neutron absorber material in the host rack allowing the nuclear plant to recover the lost storage cells and also increase the criticality safety margins in the pool. DREAM inserts consist of precisely formed shapes of Metamic™ with remote handling features. Metamic is a porosityfree metal matrix composite of aluminum and boron carbide widely used for reactivity control in high density fuel storage racks and dry used fuel storage casks. (more…)