Method for fixing a guide tube of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Sep 07 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6776827

Feutrel, C

A method is described for fixing a zircalloy guide tube of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly to the steel end plate of said assembly, wherein the following stages are successively formed: the previously expanded end of the guide tube is engaged around a sleeve until it abuts against a first outer shoulder of said sleeves; said end is covered with a force-fitted ferrule and the tube is squeezed against the sleeve, then the upper end of the ferrule is welded to the sleeve above the said first outer shoulder; the sleeve-tube-ferrule assembly is introduced into an opening provided for this purpose in the end plate and having a shoulder, until a second outer shoulder of the sleeve abuts against the said shoulder of the end plate opening; the upper part of the sleeve is welded to the upper part of the opening of the end plate of the assembly. The invention also relates to an apparatus for fixing the zircalloy guide tube to the steel end plate.

• Assignee: Commissariat A L Energie Atomique (France)
• Patent Number(s): US 4347966
• OSTI ID: 6776827
• 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
ALLOYS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
JOINING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
TIN ALLOYS
TUBES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS