Abstract:
A side-slotted nozzle type double sheet spacer grid for nuclear fuel assemblies is disclosed. The spacer grid includes intersecting inner strips and four perimeter strips. Each inner strip has unit strip parts, each fabricated by integrating two unit sheet parts together into a single structure, such that the two unit sheet parts face each other and a nozzle type coolant channel is defined between the two unit sheet parts. Each perimeter strip is fabricated by integrating an inner thin sheet having the unit sheet parts with a flat outer thin sheet having a width corresponding to the width of the inner thin sheet into a single structure. The coolant channel has one or more outlets formed by cutting an upper portion of one of the two unit sheet parts of each unit strip part. Each unit sheet part has a slot longitudinally formed on each side surface of a spring that is projected from the unit sheet part to support a fuel rod within a four-walled cell. The spacer grid thus effectively deflects and mixes coolants together to improve the heat transfer effect between fuel rods and coolants, and enhances its strength to effectively resist laterally directed forces acting thereon, and remarkably improves spring performance of its fuel rod support parts, thus accomplishing desired soundness of the fuel assemblies.
Abstract:
A duct-type spacer grid for nuclear fuel assemblies is disclosed. In this spacer grid, a plurality of duct-shaped grid elements, individually having an octagonal cell, are closely arranged in parallel and are welded together, thus forming a matrix structure. The grid elements do not pass across the center of the subchannel of the assembly, thus effectively reducing pressure loss. Each of the grid elements is formed as an independent cell, and so they effectively resist against a lateral impact. A plurality of integral type swirl flow vanes, having different heights or same height, axially extend from the top of the grid to be positioned within each subchannel. The swirl flow vanes are bent outwardly, and so they do not contact the fuel rods during an insertion of the fuel rods into the cells. In the spacer grid, the fuel rods are supported within the cells by line contact springs without using any dimple. The spacer grid thus uniformly distributes its spring force on the fuel rods and almost completely prevents damage of the fuel rods due to fretting wear.
Abstract:
A duct-type spacer grid for nuclear fuel assemblies is disclosed. In this spacer grid, a plurality of duct-shaped grid elements, individually having an octagonal cell, are closely arranged in parallel and are welded together, thus forming a matrix structure. The grid elements do not pass across the center of the subchannel of the assembly, thus effectively reducing pressure loss. Each of the grid elements is formed as an independent cell, and so they effectively resist against a lateral impact. A plurality of integral type swirl flow vanes, having different heights or same height, axially extend from the top of the grid to be positioned within each subchannel. The swirl flow vanes are bent outwardly, and so they do not contact the fuel rods during an insertion of the fuel rods into the cells. In the spacer grid, the fuel rods are supported within the cells by line contact springs without using any dimple. The spacer grid thus uniformly distributes its spring force on the fuel rods and almost completely prevents damage of the fuel rods due to fretting wear.
Abstract:
The spacer grids consist of interlaced metal straps defining a regular lattice of cells. A spring for holding a fuel rod against bearing stops is fixed on at least one wall of each of the cells. In its part which constitutes the wall of the cell, the strap includes at least one stop produced by cutting and pushing the metal of the strap into the cell, so as to limit the displacement of a fuel rod housed in the cell. Stops for limiting the displacement of the fuel rod are placed preferably o the walls of the peripheral cells or corner cells of the spacer grid, opposite a peripheral belt of the spacer grid. The invention also relates to a fuel assembly which includes, in addition to structural spacer grids, end grids and additional mixing grids interposed between the structural spacer grids.
Abstract:
A spacer for positioning at least the four corner fuel rods in a tubular flow channel of a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The spacer comprises a support member having four side bands interconnected by four corner bands to form a unitary structure. Each of the side bands has a L-shaped lobe adjacent each of its ends with one leg of each lobe extending to the adjacent end of its side band. Each of the corner bands is narrower than the side bands and is offset so as to be spaced from the lobe. One leg of each lobe is positioned to engage the tubular flow channel to maintain proper spacing between the flow channel and the adjacent corner fuel rod and to improve the thermal-hydraulic performance of the spacer.
Abstract:
Grid for the retaining or laterally supporting of primarily nuclear fuel rods, comprising plate springs that exert a retaining force remaining constant, irrespective of the degree of compression. A spring may be spotwelded to the grid, snapped into place in a hole in the grid wall, or both.
Abstract:
A cellular fuel element assembly spacer grid providing for resilient bracing of fuel pins in the cells of the grid by bow spring locating members projecting inside the cells of the grid to hold the fuel pins against opposed rigid stops also projecting inside the cells of the grid. The grid comprises two tiers each formed from intersecting strip members defining cells which are penetrated by the fuel pins and arranged parallel to one another but spaced apart. The bow spring locating members extend longitudinally between the two tiers and have end ferrules which are a sliding fit on locating members which extend longitudinally from the facing inner edges of the strip members forming the two tiers. The grid tiers are fabricated individually by heat bonding the intersecting strip members prior to assembling the tiers into the spacer grid.
Abstract:
A support grid for the fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. The grid being generally of the egg crate type of construction with the crossed grid plates being of a material having a low neutron absorption cross-section (Zircaloy). Springs to prevent fuel element movement are secured to these grid plates with the springs being of a high nickle alloy steel such that their load carrying capability resulting from stress relaxation during operation of the reactor is greater than would be the case if fabricated of the material of the grid plates.