Spacer-grid for a fuel assembly of a light water nuclear reactor
AssigneesFramatome, Cogema
InventorsBruno Mouesca, Jean-Pierre Denizou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The spacer-grid comprises at least one single-piece plate (1) through which extend a group of openings (2) at least a part of which constitutes an even network of passages (2) for the fuel rods and the guide tubes of the fuel assembly. The spacer-grid may be formed by one single-piece plate (1) of great thickness or by the association of a plurality of parallel single-piece plates interconnected by an outer girdle element.
Claims15
Spacer-grid for a fuel assembly of a light water nuclear reactor, which assembly comprises a bundle of parallel fuel rods in which some rods are replaced by guide tubes and in respect to which the transverse maintenance is ensured by a plurality of spacer-grids spaced apart along the length of the rods and each defining an even network of passages for receiving said fuel rods and said guide tubes, said spacer-grid comprising
- (a) at least two single-piece plates arranged parallel to each other and separated by a distance of up to 70 mm in a direction perpendicular to the plates, the passages of the plates being arranged in accordance with networks so as to be in alignment with each other by a translation in a direction perpendicular to the plates;
- and
- (b) connection parts rigidly fixed to lateral sides of said plates and interconnecting said plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.