Fuel assembly holddown spring

Patent · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5560701

Bryan, W J; Hatfield, S C

This patent describes improvement in a nuclear reactor having a core defined by side by side, vertically extending, elongated nuclear fuel assemblies each having an upper end fitting, an upper core plate oriented horizontally in closely spaced relation to the upper end fittings, and spring packs attached to the upper end fittings and cantilevered toward the core plate so as to resiliently urge the fuel assemblies against the lower core plate, the cantilevered spring having a loading point at a preset distance from the attachment point. The improvement comprises the cantilevered spring having a projection toward the upper core plate which contacts the core plate when the core plate deflects the spring a predetermined amount, thereby effectively shortening and stiffening the spring against further movement of the core plate relatively toward the upper end fitting of the spring a second loading.

• Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5053191; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-581795
• OSTI ID: 5560701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUELS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS