Nuclear reactor spacer grid and ductless core component
- Kennewick, WA
- Richland, WA
The invention relates to a nuclear reactor spacer grid member for use in a liquid cooled nuclear reactor and to a ductless core component employing a plurality of these spacer grid members. The spacer grid member is of the egg-shell type and is constructed so that the walls of the cell members of the grid member are formed of a single thickness of metal to avoid tolerance problems. Within each cell member is a hydraulic spring which laterally constrains the nuclear material bearing rod which passes through each cell member against a hardstop in response to coolant flow through the cell member. This hydraulic spring is also suitable for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor. A core component constructed of, among other components, a plurality of these spacer grid members, avoids the use of a full length duct by providing spacer sleeves about the sodium tubes passing through the spacer grid members at locations between the grid members, thereby maintaining a predetermined space between adjacent grid members.
- Research Organization:
- WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76FF02170
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4818479
- OSTI ID:
- 866905
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Nuclear reactor spacer grid loading
Nuclear reactor spacer grid
Related Subjects
adjacent
avoid
avoids
bearing
cell
component
components
constrains
constructed
coolant
coolant flow
cooled
cooled nuclear
core
core component
duct
ductless
ductless core
egg-shell
employing
flow
formed
grid
hardstop
hydraulic
laterally
length
liquid
liquid cooled
locations
maintaining
material
material bearing
metal
nuclear
nuclear material
nuclear reactor
passes
passing
plurality
predetermined
providing
reactor
reactor space
reactor spacer
relates
response
rod
single
sleeves
sodium
space
spacer
spacer grid
spring
suitable
thickness
tolerance
tubes
tubes pass
tubes passing
type
walls
water
water cooled