A fuel assembly
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Sweden AB
InventorsSture Helmersson, Jeremy King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor having an upstream minor portion defining an upstream end, a main portion, and a downstream minor portion defining a downstream end. Fuel rods extend in a flow interspace permitting a flow of coolant through the fuel assembly in contact with the fuel rods. Two elongated tubes form a respective internal passage extending in parallel with the fuel rods and enclosing a stream of the coolant. Each elongated tube having a bottom, an inlet at the upstream minor portion and an outlet at the downstream minor portion. Each elongated tube having an inlet pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end in the internal passage at a distance from the bottom, thereby forming a space in the internal passage between the outlet end and the bottom.
Claims16
1-15. (canceled)
A fuel assembly configured to be positioned in a nuclear water reactor, comprising:
- an upstream minor portion defining an upstream end,
- a downstream minor portion defining a downstream end,
- a main portion connecting the upstream minor portion and the downstream minor portion,
- a plurality of elongated fuel rods arranged in parallel with a longitudinal axis extending through the upstream end and the downstream end,
- a flow interspace between the upstream end and the downstream end, the flow interspace being configured to permit a flow of coolant through the fuel assembly along a flow direction from the upstream end to the downstream end in contact with the fuel rods, and
- at least one elongated tube forming an internal passage extending through the main portion in parallel with the fuel rods and permitting a stream of the coolant through the internal passage,
- wherein the elongated tube comprises a bottom, an inlet to the internal passage at the upstream minor portion and an outlet from the internal passage at the downstream minor portion,
- wherein:
- the elongated tube comprises an inlet pipe forming the inlet,
- the inlet pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end,
- the outlet end is located inside the internal passage at a distance from the bottom, thereby forming a space in the internal passage between the outlet end and the bottom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.