Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and spring

Patent · Tue Dec 03 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5587837

Johansson, E B

This paper describes a spring for positioning at least one nuclear fuel rods in a spacer usable in a fuel assembly of a nuclear power plant, the spacer provided with ferrules, each ferrule having rod-contacting portions for holding at least one of the rods when the rod is biased against the rod-contacting portions by the spring. It comprises: a metallic strip having a width and a thickness, and having first and second ends, the ends spaced apart, the strip formed to include: a central region having a rod-contacting portion; a first spacer-engagement loop formed adjacent to the first end; a first dimple formed in the first loop, extending towards the interior of the first loop; a second spacer-engagement loop formed adjacent to the second end; a second dimple formed in the second loop, extending towards the interior of the second loop; and a first leg lying between the central rod contacting portion and the first loop; and a second leg lying between the central rod contacting portion and the second loop.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5069864; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-509457
• OSTI ID: 5587837
• 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
FABRICATION
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
MACHINE PARTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SPACERS
SPRINGS