Fuel assembly spacer
AssigneeDoryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
InventorsYoshitsugu Mishima, Naoaki Takahashi, Kiyozumi Hayashi, Kazushige Domoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spacer for supporting a plurality of fuel rods forming a nuclear fuel assembly. The spacer comprises a peripheral band surrounding a bundle of the fuel rods and a plurality of spacer framework units, each holding therein one fuel rod. The spacer framework units are welded or brazed to the peripheral band so as to be arranged inside the peripheral band. Spring members are integrally formed on each of the spacer framework units. The spacer framework units, the spring members and the peripheral band are made of a zirconium alloy containing 5-25% by weight niobium and 0.1-1% by weight chromium and/or iron.
Claims5
In a spacer for supporting a plurality of fuel rods forming a nuclear fuel assembly, which spacer comprises a peripheral band surrounding a bundle of the fuel rods and a plurality of spacer framework units each holding therein one fuel rod, said spacer framework units being welded or brazed to said peripheral band so as to be arranged inside said peripheral band, the improvement wherein spring members are formed integrally on each of said spacer framework units, said spacer framework units, said spring members and said peripheral band are made of a zirconium alloy containing 5-25% by weight niobium and 0.1-1% by weight chromium and/or iron.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.