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US 10,170,207 B2Granted
Fuel assembly
AssigneeThorium Power, Inc.
InventorsSergey Mikhailovich Bashkirtsev, Alexey Glebovich Morozov, Aaron Totemeier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nuclear fuel assemblies include non-symmetrical fuel elements with reduced lateral dimensions on their outer lateral sides that facilitate fitting the fuel assembly into the predefined envelope size and guide tube position and pattern of a conventional nuclear reactor. Nuclear fuel assemblies alternatively comprise a mixed grid pattern that positions generally similar fuel elements in a compact arrangement that facilitates fitting of the assembly into the conventional nuclear reactor.
Claims24
A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to the nuclear reactor internal core structure;
- and
- a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported by the frame, each of said plurality of fuel elements comprising fissile material, wherein as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the plurality of fuel elements are arranged into a mixed grid pattern that comprises a first grid pattern and a second grid pattern, the second grid pattern being different from the first grid pattern, wherein:
- each of the plurality of fuel elements has a common circumscribed diameter;
- the first grid pattern comprises a pattern of square rows and columns;
- the centerline-to-centerline distance between the rows and columns equals the common circumscribed diameter;
- the second grid pattern comprises a pattern of equilateral triangles;
- and
- a length of each side of each triangle equals the common circumscribed diameter.
6 more elements
A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to the nuclear reactor internal core structure;
- and
- a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported by the frame, each of said plurality of fuel elements comprising fissile material, wherein as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the plurality of fuel elements are arranged into a mixed grid pattern that comprises a first grid pattern and a second grid pattern, the second grid pattern being different from the first grid pattern, each elongated fuel element defining a fuel element cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the fuel assembly, wherein each elongated fuel element directly contacts at least one adjacent fuel element, and wherein:
- the frame comprises a shroud surrounding the plurality of fuel elements such that all of the plurality of fuel elements are disposed inside the shroud;
- the shroud comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls meet at a first corner and the second and third sidewalls meet at a second corner;
- and
- the fuel assembly comprises a first corner structure disposed inside the shroud adjacent the first corner and in contact with the first sidewall and the second sidewall and a second corner structure disposed inside the shroud adjacent the second corner and in contact with the second sidewall and the third sidewall, wherein each of the first and second corner structures define a corner structure cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the fuel assembly that is different from each fuel element cross-section, wherein the first and second corner structures are separate.
4 more elements
A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to the nuclear reactor internal core structure;
- and
- a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported by the frame, each of said plurality of fuel elements comprising fissile material, wherein as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the plurality of fuel elements are arranged into a mixed grid pattern that comprises a first grid pattern and a second grid pattern, the second grid pattern being different from the first grid pattern, wherein:
- the frame comprises a shroud having a first planar sidewall and a second planar sidewall connected by a corner region, wherein all of the plurality of fuel elements are disposed inside the shroud;
- the fuel assembly comprises a corner structure comprising a burnable poison, wherein the corner structure is located outside of the shroud and extends over the corner region of the shroud from the first planar sidewall to the second planar sidewall.
2 more elements
A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to the nuclear reactor internal core structure;
- and
- a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported by the frame, each of said plurality of fuel elements comprising fissile material, wherein as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the plurality of fuel elements are arranged into a mixed grid pattern that comprises a first grid pattern and a second grid pattern, the second grid pattern being different from the first grid pattern, wherein:
- the frame comprises a shroud such that all of the plurality of fuel elements are disposed inside the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall separate from one another;
- and
- the fuel assembly comprises a corner structure joining the first sidewall to the second sidewall at a corner of the shroud, wherein the corner structure comprises a burnable poison.
3 more elements
A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to the nuclear reactor internal core structure;
- and
- a plurality of elongated fuel elements supported by the frame, each of said plurality of fuel elements comprising fissile material, wherein as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to an axial direction of the fuel assembly, the plurality of fuel elements are arranged into a mixed grid pattern that comprises a first grid pattern and a second grid pattern, the second grid pattern being different from the first grid pattern, wherein:
- the frame comprises a shroud such that all of the plurality of fuel elements are disposed inside the shroud;
- and
- the fuel assembly comprises four corner structures each comprising a burnable poison, wherein the shroud comprises four separate plates joined by said four corner structures.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.