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US 8,009,791 B2Granted
Fuel supports for nuclear reactors
AssigneeGlobal Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLC
InventorsBirol Aktas, Robert James, Carlton W. Clark, William Earl Russell, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel support for a nuclear reactor may include: a plurality of fuel support apertures, each fuel support aperture dimensioned for receiving a lower tie plate of a fuel assembly; and a plurality of lumens, each lumen being coupled to a different fuel support aperture. At least one lumen may be configured for attenuating a fluid flow differently than the fluid flow in at least one other of the lumen.
Claims25
A fuel support for a nuclear reactor, comprising:
- a body insertable into a mounting hole of a core plate, the body defining a plurality of fuel support apertures, each fuel support aperture dimensioned for receiving a lower tie plate of a fuel assembly;
- and
- a plurality of lumens, each lumen being directly, fluidly coupled to a different fuel support aperture;
- wherein at least one lumen is configured for attenuating a fluid flow differently than the fluid flow in at least one other of the lumen.
1 more element
A fuel support for a nuclear reactor, comprising:
- means for mounting a plurality of fuel assemblies within a reactor core,
- the means for mounting including a plurality of lumens, each lumen fluidly coupling a respective fuel assembly to a respective control rod guide tube,
- each lumen selectively providing an attenuated fluid flow to at least one of the fuel assemblies mounted by the means for mounting.
A fuel support for a nuclear reactor, comprising:
- a body insertable into a mounting hole of a core plate, the body defining a plurality of fuel support apertures, each fuel support aperture dimensioned for receiving a lower tie plate of a fuel assembly;
- a cavity dimensioned for receiving a control rod;
- a plurality of lumens, each directly, fluidly coupled to a different fuel support aperture;
- a fixture about, at least a portion of, an interior surface defining each lumen;
- and
- each lumen fluidly coupling a respective fuel assembly to a respective control rod guide tube,
- at least one flow control member configured for attenuating a flow of a fluid through one of the lumen as compared to a flow of fluid through at least one other lumen,
- the at least one flow control member being dimensioned for positioning within one or more lumen and being at least partially secured therein by the fixture.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.