Nuclear fuel-rod assembly support structure

Patent · Tue Nov 07 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6453734

Bezold, H

A nuclear fuel rod assembly support structure has top and bottom end pieces, and a plurality of fuel rod spacer grids and control-rod guide tubes. It has top and bottom ends fastened to the top and bottom end pieces to hold these pieces interspaced. The guide tubes are inserted slidably through the openings in the spacer grids. It is necessary to fix the spacer grids to the guide tubes to maintain the spacer grids at properly interspaced positions and to provide a support structure that is as rigid as possible. For reasons of nuclear physics, the guide tubes and spacer grids are made of different metals or alloys which are difficult to fix together by the use of solidified molten metal using presently known welding and soldering techniques. Sleeves are used through which the guide tubes are inserted with the spacer grids positioned between these sleeves and the sleeves axially engaging the spacer grids. The sleeves are fixed to the guide tubes by the solidified molten metal. The sleeves and the guide tubes may be made of the same metals or alloys which can be welded or soldered together easily.

• Assignee: TIC; EDB-79-030549
• Patent Number(s): US 4124443
• OSTI ID: 6453734
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
DESIGN
FABRICATION
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
JOINING
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
SLEEVES
SPACERS
SUPPORTS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WELDING