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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Double-D water rod for 9 by 9 fuel bundle

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7012152
This patent describes an improved fuel assembly including a lower tie-plate, an upper tie-plate, a square sectioned channel connecting the lower and upper tie-plate in fluid tight relation whereby fluid entering the lower tie-plate is discharged out the upper tie-plate, fuel rods each containing fissionable material therewithin. The fuel rods being held at the upper and lower tie-plates in a 9 by 9 array of rows and columns with all fuel rods having the same diameter; a plurality of spacers placed between the fuel rods for maintaining the fuel rods in spaced apart relation between the upper and lower tie-plates. The fuel rods in the 9 by 9 array having three the fuel rods removed from the middle row and two the fuel rods removed from each row on either side of the middle row to create a vacated interstitial volume defined by the absence of the removed fuel rods. The removal of the fuel rods at each row on either side displaced towards adjacent corners of the 9 by 9 array.
Assignee:
General Electric Co., San Jose, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4876063
Application Number:
PPN: US 7169546A
OSTI ID:
7012152
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English