Fuel pin extraction

The patent describes the extraction of nuclear fuel pins from fuel elements, during the dismantling of the fuel subassemblies in preparation for the reprocessing of spent fuel. The fuel elements comprise a bundle of generally parallel transversely spaced pins contained in a sheath. The invention concerns an extraction element which has a series of pin-receiving openings in one edge. The apparatus also includes a means of locating a fuel pin bundle in a predetermined position. Penetration of the extraction element into the bundle leads to the engagement of a row of fuel pins in the pin-receiving openings, the element is then used to pull that row out of the bundle. (U.K.)