Nuclear fuel assembly spacer and spring

A spring and spacer assembly for positioning at least one of a plurality of nuclear fuel rods, usable in a fuel assembly of a nuclear power plant, comprising:

• a plurality of ferrules joined to each other, each ferrule having at least one rod stop for contacting at least one of said rods when said rod is in a preferred rod position biased against said rod stop, at least a first ferrule having a first slot defining an ear portion;
• at least a first spring for biasing a fuel rod towards said rod stop, said spring having a width and a thickness, and having first and second ends, said ends spaced apart, said spring formed to include:
• a central region having a rod-contacting portion;
• first and second loops for engaging said ear portion of said first ferrule, said first and second loops having first and second dimples, respectively, for contacting said ear portion;
• first and second legs lying between the central region and the first and second loops.

A spring and spacer assembly for positioning ar least one of a plurality of nuclear fuel rods, usable in a core assembly of a nuclear power plant, comprising:

• a plurality of ferrules joined to each other, each ferrule having rod stops for contacting at least one of said rods when said rod is in a preferred rod position biased against said rod stops, at least a first ferrule having a first slot defining two ear portions;
• a spring for biasing a fuel rod toward said rod stop, said spring having a width and a thickness, and having first and second ends, said ends spaced apart, said spring formed to include:
• at least a first leg having a rod-contacting portion;
• and
• first and second loops for engaging said ear portions of said first ferrule, said width is greatest in the central portion of said leg, and is reduced in other portions of the spring, to reduce neutron-capture by said spring.

A spring and spacer assembly for positioning at least one of a plurality of nuclear fuel rods, usable in a core assembly of a nuclear power plant, comprising:

• a plurality of ferrules joined to one another, at least a first ferrule having a first slot defining two ear portions, at least a second ferrule having a second slot substantially without an ear portion, said second slot having a width;
• at least a first spring for biasing a fuel rod towards said rod stops, said spring having a width and a thickness, said width being less than the width of said second ferrule slot, said spring having first and second ends, said ends spaced apart, said spring formed to include:
• at least a first leg having a rod-contacting portion;
• and
• first and second loops for engaging said ear portions of said first ferrule;
• said second ferrule attached to said first ferrule in a position with said second slot aligned with said first slot so as to prevent disengagement of said spring from said ears.

A spring for positioning at least one of a plurality of nuclear fuel rods in a spacer usable in a core assembly of a nuclear power plant, the spacer defining a plurality of rod positions, the spring comprising:

• a metallic ribbon having a width and a thickness and having first and second ends, said ends spaced apart, said ribbon formed to include:
• at least a first leg having a rod-contacting portion;
• a first spacer-engagement loop formed adjacent to said first end;
• at least a portion of said leg extending adjacent to said first loop;
• said rod-contacting portion including an arch formed in said leg, wherein the portion of the spring between said rod-contacting portion and said first loop is substantially flat.