Nuclear fuel assembly
AssigneeWestinghouse Atom AB
InventorOLOV NYLUND
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section wherein the fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4). The fuel rods (4) extend between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly. At least one of the top tie plates (6) or the bottom tie plates (5) comprises flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) for the passage of the coolant and side supports (17) for supporting the fuel rods (4) in the lateral direction. The side supports (17) are designed in one and the same sheet-metal piece as the flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and the side supports (17) are folded substantially 90° in relation to the other structure of the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5).
Claims9
A fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section comprising a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and wherein a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly, characterized in that the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5) comprises flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) for the passage of the coolant and side supports (17) for supporting the fuel rods (4) in the lateral direction wherein the side supports (17) are formed in one and the same sheet-metal piece as the flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and wherein the side supports (17) are folded substantially 90° in relation to the rest of the structure of the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5).
A fuel assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side supports (17) are made with a substantially tapering shape.
A fuel assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that guiding tabs (25) are arranged in the outer ends of the side supports (17), said tabs being folded in relation to the plane of the side support (17) and towards the central part of the top (6) or bottom (5) tie plate.
A fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section comprising a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and wherein a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly, characterized in that the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5) is made in one sheet-metal piece with a plurality of flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and that, in the same sheet, mixing vanes (28) are arranged, punched out in the flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and folded in relation to the rest of the plane of the top (6) or bottom (5) tie plate for mixing the coolant flowing through the flow opening (22, 22a, 22b).
A fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section comprising a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and wherein a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly, characterized in that the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5) is made with a wavy cross section such that a top tie plate (6) arranged adjacent to a bottom tie plate (5) makes contact therewith in portions (30) surrounding flow openings (22) and that, between these portions, they are arranged in spaced relationship to each other.
A fuel assembly, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fuel units (3) stacked on top of each other, wherein at least one fuel unit (3) comprises a top tie plate (6) or a bottom tie plate (5) according to any of the preceding claims.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.