Spacer grid rod support system

A grid strip for a fuel rod support grid of a nuclear fuel assembly, comprising:

• a substantially flat plate of annealed metal having length, height, and width dimensions;
• a plurality of slots extending along the height dimension at regular intervals along the length dimension, thereby defining successive cell walls between successive slots along the length dimension;
• each cell wall having a substantially flat base area and fuel rod support structure projecting integrally from the base area along the width dimension of the strip;
• wherein the support structure includes spaced apart pedestals cold-formed to project from the base area and a resilient beam cold-formed to project from the pedestals and to extend between and be rigidly supported by the pedestals, each pedestal forming an arch that bends along the length dimension of the strip with the pedestals being canted away from each other along the height dimension, and the beam forming an arch that bends along the height dimension of the strip.

A grid strip for a fuel rod support grid of nuclear fuel assembly, comprising:

• a substantially flat metal plate having length, height, and width dimensions;
• a plurality of slots extending along the height dimension at regular intervals along the length dimension, thereby defining successive cell walls between successive slots along the length dimension;
• each cell wall having upper, central, and lower regions along the height dimension, each region including a substantially flat base area and fuel rod support structure projecting integrally from the base area along the width dimension of the strip;
• wherein the support structure in each of the upper and lower regions includes a relatively stiff, arched stop which projects in a first direction and the support structure in the central region includes a relatively soft, arched spring which projects in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• said spring including spaced apart pedestals formed in the base area of the central region and projecting in the second direction, and a resilient beam extending between and rigidly supported by the pedestals, so as to project in the second direction beyond the projection of the pedestals, each pedestal forming an arch that bends along the length dimension of the strip and the beam forming an arch that bends along the height dimension of the strip.