Coolant vent fuel rod for a light water reactor

A nuclear fuel rod for a light water reactor comprising:

• (a) a part length fuel rod portion;
• (b) a tube having at least one wall member defining an enclosed flow path therethrough and further defining a discharge opening, the tube being disposed above the part length fuel rod portion;
• (c) a transition connector disposed between the part length fuel rod portion and the tube, the transition connector being mounted axially and coupled to a lower end of the tube, the transition connector having a first outer perimeter substantially equal to and coupled axially to an outer perimeter of the part length fuel rod portion, and wherein the transition connector further having a second outer perimeter;
• the transistor connector adapted to have an outer wall defining at least two inlet openings that are substantially aligned so that one is above the other and a hollow portion for a two phase fluid to enter the at least two inlet openings and pass through the transition connector and into the enclosed flow path in the tube;
• the transition connector further including at least two substantially V-shaped surface members extending from the outer wall of the transition connector for diverting at least a portion of liquid contained in the two phase fluid from the inlet openings, and wherein a first surface member of the at least two surface members being located so that portions thereof are located below a first inlet opening and a second surface member being located so that portions thereof are located below a second inlet opening.

A nuclear fuel rod for a light water reactor comprising:

• (a) a part length fuel rod portion;
• (b) a tube having at least one wall member defining an enclosed flow path therethrough and further defining a discharge opening, the tube being disposed above the part length fuel rod portion;
• (c) a transition connector disposed between the part length fuel rod portion and the tube, the transition connector being mounted axially and coupled to a lower end of the tube, the transition connector having a first outer perimeter substantially equal to and coupled axially to an outer perimeter of the part length fuel rod portion;
• at least one of the tube and the transition connector having an inlet opening for a two phase fluid to enter the enclosed flow path in the tube;
• the transition connector further including means for diverting at least a portion of liquid contained in the two phase fluid from the inlet opening, and wherein the means for diverting is the transition connector adapted to having a first diameter tapering upwardly from the part length fuel rod portion into a reduced diameter and flaring thereafter into a second diameter, the tapering and flaring producing a smooth flow path from the perimeter of the part length fuel rod portion to the second diameter for propelling liquid flowing therealong radially inward then radially outward from the transition connector.

A nuclear fuel rod for a light water reactor comprising:

• (a) a part length fuel rod portion;
• (b) a tube having at least one wall member defining an enclosed flow path therethrough and further defining a discharge opening, the tube being disposed above the part length fuel rod portion;
• (c) a transition connector disposed between the part length fuel rod portion and the tube, the transition connector being mounted axially and coupled to a lower end of the tube, the transition connector having a first outer perimeter substantially equal to and coupled axially to an outer perimeter of the part length fuel rod portion;
• at least one of the tube and the transition connector having an inlet opening for a two phase fluid to enter the enclosed flow path in the tube;
• the transition connector further including means for diverting at least a portion of liquid contained in the two phase fluid from the inlet opening, wherein the means for diverting is the transition connector adapted to having a first diameter tapering upwardly from the part length fuel rod portion into a reduced diameter and flaring thereafter into a first flared ring section having a second diameter, the tapering and flaring producing a smooth flow path from the perimeter of the part length fuel rod portion to the second diameter for propelling liquid flowing therealong radially inward then radially outward form the transition connector, the first flared ring section thereafter tapering upwardly into a reduced diameter and flaring thereafter into a second flared ring section having a third diameter.