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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Modular nuclear fuel assembly design

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5447528
A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core is described comprising at least two sub-assembly fuel modules, each of the sub-assembly modules containing axially extending fuel rods and comprising: a bottom nozzle module having an associated bottom plate module; a top nozzle module having an associated top plate module; at least one guide tube extending between the top and bottom modules; at least one fuel rod spacer grid module fixed to the guide tube for laterally supporting the fuel rods; a joining means including an interlocking means for removably securing the top and bottom nozzle modules respectively of adjacent sub-assembly fuel modules together to form an integral assembly from the sub-assembly modules, the joining means being operable to facilitate rapid assembly and disassembly of the fuel assembly into its component sub-assemblies.
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
Patent Number(s):
US 4716015
OSTI ID:
5447528
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English