US 5,009,837 A · Axially modular fuel assembly and rod for optimal fuel utilization

Abstract

A modular fuel assembly has a plurality of axially stacked subassemblies. The stacked subassemblies includes upper and lower subassemblies which incorporate top and bottom nozzles, and a plurality of intermediate subassemblies disposed between the upper and lower subassemblies. Each subassembly includes a plurality of elongated guide thimble segments, a plurality of fuel rod segments and a pair of support grids mounted to the guide thimble segments and supporting the fuel rod segments. The guide thimble segments of the upper and lower subassemblies are releasably mounted to the respective top and bottom nozzles thereof. The guide thimble segments are interlocked together to form a plurality of elongated guide thimbles extending between and together with the top and bottom nozzles defining a structural skeleton of the modular fuel assembly with the support grids of the respective subassemblies disposed in axially spaced relation relative to one another along the guide thimbles and the fuel rod segments of the respective adjacent subassemblies disposed in axially aligned end-to-end interfitted relation with each other to form a plurality of elongated fuel rods of the modular fuel assembly.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A modular fuel assembly, comprising:

(a) a plurality of axially stacked end-to-end adjacent subassemblies;
(b) each of said subassemblies including a plurality of elongated structural segments, a plurality of fuel rod segments and at least one support grid mounted to said structural segments and supporting said fuel rod segments;
and
(c) means defined on opposite ends of said structural segments for releasably connecting together in axially aligned end-to-end relation said structural segments of said respective adjacent subassemblies to form a plurality of elongated structural support members for providing a structural skeleton of said modular fuel assembly with said support grids of said respective adjacent subassemblies disposed in axially spaced relation relative to one another along said structural support members and said fuel rod segments of said respective adjacent subassemblies disposed in axially aligned end-to-end relation with each other.

1 more element

A modular fuel assembly, comprising:

(a) an upper subassembly including a top nozzle;
(b) a lower subassembly including a bottom nozzle;
(c) a plurality of intermediate subassemblies;
(d) each of said upper, lower and intermediate subassemblies including a plurality of elongated structural segments, a plurality of fuel rod segments and at least one support grid mounted to said structural segments and supporting said fuel rod segments, said structural segments of said upper and lower subassemblies being releasably mounted to said respective top and bottom nozzles thereof;
(e) means defined on opposite ends of said structural segments for releasably interlocking together in axially aligned end-to-end relation said structural segments of said respective adjacent subassemblies to form a plurality of elongated structural support members extending between and connected to said top and bottom nozzles to define therewith a structural skeleton of said modular fuel assembly with said support grids of said respective adjacent subassemblies disposed in axially aligned end-to-end relation each other;
and
(f) means for releasably joining said fuel rod segments together to form a plurality of elongated fuel rods of said modular fuel assembly.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Axially modular fuel assembly and rod for optimal fuel utilization

Life of this patent

Axially modular fuel assembly and rod for optimal fuel utilization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24