Process for application of lubricant to fuel rod during fuel assembly loading process
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsMichael O. Bausch, David C. Crone, Randal K. Lincoln
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to nuclear reactors, and more particularly, to nuclear reactors having fuel assemblies that employ support grids. A method of reducing friction and physical contact between a fuel rod and support grid in a nuclear fuel assembly is provided. The method includes applying a lubricant composition to the outer surface of the fuel rod during fuel assembly fabrication and removing the lubricant composition afterward.
Claims8
A method to reduce friction and physical contact between an outer surface of a fuel rod and a support grid in a fuel rod assembly of a nuclear reactor during loading of the fuel rod into the support grid, comprising:
- applying to the outer surface of the fuel rod a lubricant composition to form a film thereon, said lubricant composition comprising polyalkylene glycol;
- and
- loading the fuel rod having said film applied thereon into the support grid of the fuel rod assembly,
- wherein the friction and physical contact between the outer surface of the fuel rod and the support rid loading is reduced as a result of the film formed on the outer surface of the fuel rod.
A method for loading a coated fuel rod into a support grid of a fuel rod assembly for a nuclear reactor to reduce friction and physical contact between an outer surface of the fuel rod and the support grid, and for inserting the fuel rod into the nuclear reactor so as to substantially reduce an amount of coating composition from contacting reactor coolant in the nuclear reactor, comprising:
- applying to the outer surface of the fuel rod a lubricant composition to form a film thereon, said lubricant composition comprising polyalkylene glycol;
- loading the fuel rod having said film applied thereon into the support grid of the fuel rod assembly;
- washing the fuel rod having said film applied thereon and loaded into the support grid of the fuel rod assembly to substantially remove the lubricant composition;
- and
- inserting the fuel rod having said lubricant composition substantially removed therefrom into the nuclear reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.