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Title: Preliminary design and manufacturing feasibility study for a machined Zircaloy triangular pitch fuel rod support system (grids) (AWBA development program)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5238073· OSTI ID:5238073

General design features and manufacturing operations for a high precision machined Zircaloy fuel rod support grid intended for use in advanced light water prebreeder or breeder reactor designs are described. The grid system consists of a Zircaloy main body with fuel rod and guide tube cells machined using wire EDM, a separate AM-350 stainless steel insert spring which fits into a full length T-slot in each fuel rod cell, and a thin (0.025'' or 0.040'' thick) wire EDM machined Zircaloy coverplate laser welded to each side of the grid body to retain the insert springs. The fuel rods are placed in a triangular pitch array with a tight rod-to-rod spacing of 0.063 inch nominal. Two dimples are positioned at the mid-thickness of the grid (single level) with a 90/sup 0/ included angle. Data is provided on the effectiveness of the manufacturing operations chosen for grid machining and assembly.

Research Organization:
Bettis Atomic Power Lab. (BAPL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC11-76PN00014
OSTI ID:
5238073
Report Number(s):
WAPD-TM-1491; ON: DE82014950; TRN: 82-013305
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English