Debris-resistant fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Jul 18 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7156905

Brown, C A; Holzer, R; Patterson, J F

This patent describes an improvement in a fuel assembly. It comprises an upper tie plate and a lower tie plate, a plurality of fuel rods extending therebetween and a plurality of tie tubes extending therebetween and secured to the upper and lower tie plates, a plurality of grid spacers positioned between the tie plates and comprising intersecting strips forming cells through which the fuel rods and the tie tubes extend, the tie plates comprising relatively large, substantially circular openings through which water flows into the assembly. The improvement comprising: a grid spacer positioned substantially on the lower tie plate and positioned with the intersections of the strips approximately centered on the openings so as to subdivide the openings to trap debris and prevent it from entering spaces between the fuel rods. The last named grid spacer being formed of double strips. The double strips being deformed adjacent the intersections of the strips to form channels for cooling water, whereby the walls of the channels subdivide the openings.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-90-001088; EDB-90-046747
• Patent Number(s): US 4849161
• Application Number: PPN: US 7124698A
• OSTI ID: 7156905
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
PLATES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY
SPACERS