Increased fuel column height for boiling water reactor fuel rods

Patent · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6471496

Matzner, B

Rods to maintain said fuel rods upstanding and permitting the exit of water and generated steam is described; a fuel bundle channel extending from said lower tie plate to the vicinity of said upper tie plate, and surrounding said fuel rods therebetween for producing an isolated flow region through said matrix of upstanding fuel rods for the generation of steam by nuclear reaction within said fuel rods; a first plurality of said fuel rods being full length fuel rods for extending fully between said upper and lower tie plates; and, a second plurality of said fuel rods being part length fuel rods for extending part way from a supported disposition on said lower tie plate to a point of fuel rod termination below said upper tie plate whereby a vacated vertical interval is defined between the upper end of said part length fuel rod and said upper tie plate; the improvement to said first plurality of full length fuel rods comprising in combination: said full length fuel rods including a first lower region having a first and smaller diameter containing said pellets of fissionable material; and, at least some of said full length fuel rods including an upper region containing said plenum which is devoid of fuel pellets having a second and larger diameter for providing to said plenum an expanded volume whereby the flow area overlying said part length fuel rods defines additional outflow area adjacent said plenums and the active length of fissionable pellets within said full length fuel rods can be increased.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5219519
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-839424
• OSTI ID: 6471496
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
BWR TYPE REACTORS
DIMENSIONS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL CHANNELS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PELLETS
FUEL RODS
HEIGHT
PELLETS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR CHANNELS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SIZE
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS