Nuclear reactor core containing fuel assemblies positioned adjacent core baffle structure having annular anti-vibration grids
This patent describes a nuclear reactor, the combination comprising: (a) a reactor core composed of a plurality of fuel assemblies disposed in side-by-side spaced relationships, an outer group of the fuel assemblies defining the periphery of the core and an inner group of the fuel assemblies positioned inwardly of and encompassed by the outer group thereof; (b) each of the fuel assemblies having elongated guide thimbles, a multiplicity of elongated fuel rods, support grids axially spaced along and supported by the guide thimbles, each of the support grids defining a multiplicity of cells at least equal in number to the multiplicity of fuel rods for receiving respective ones of the fuel rods therethrough and supporting the fuel rods in a side-by-side array with respect to one another and to the guide thimbles; (c) a baffle structure extending about the reactor core adjacent the fuel assemblies in the outer group thereof. The baffle structure having components being subject to unpredictable loosening with respect to one another so as to permit jetting of a coolant fluid from the exterior to the interior of the baffle structure and impingement upon fuel rods in the fuel assemblies of the outer group thereof so as to cause vibration of the fuel rods; and (d) annular anti-vibration grids axially spaced along, and connected to at least some of, the guide thimbles of the fuel assemblies in the outer group thereof between at least some of the support grids of the fuel assemblies in the outer group thereof, the annular grids being separate from and unconnected to the support grids, each of the annular grids defining of cells being less in number than the multiplicity of fuel rods of each of the fuel assemblies in the outer group thereof but at least equal in number to the fuel rods positioned about the periphery of the each fuel assembly in the outer group thereof.
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4762669
- Application Number:
- TRN: 89-003514
- OSTI ID:
- 6531931
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 13 May 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
REACTOR CORES
DAMPING
BAFFLES
COOLING
DESIGN
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL RODS
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
REACTOR SAFETY
SHOCK ABSORBERS
SLEEVES
SPACERS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SAFETY
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220300 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Fuel Elements