Nuclear fuel assembly with large coolant conducting tube

This patent describes a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor comprising elongated fuel rods each containing a column of nuclear fuel; support means providing support positions for retaining the fuel rods in spaced array including a lower tie plate engaging the lower ends of the fuel rods; a nose piece extending from the lower tie plate and forming a coolant receiving chamber; a large diameter elongated coolant conducting tube extending upward through the assembly and occupying the space of the fuel rods, the coolant conducting tube having an opening at its lower end for receiving coolant and an opening at its upper end for discharging coolant; at least one space axially positioned intermediate between the upper and lower ends of the fuel rods for laterally supporting the fuel rods and the coolant conducting tube; and a mounting member for the large diameter coolant conducting tube. The lower end of the mounting member engaging the lower tie plate and the upper end of the mounting member is secured to the lower end of the coolant conducting tube. The mounting member has a relatively small diameter and is relatively flexible compared to the large diameter coolant conducting tube. In the event of lateral displacement of the upper end of the large diameter coolant conducting tube, excessive lateral forces on the spacer are avoided