Fuel assembly support structure for reactor

Purpose: To restrict a part or whole of injected molten fuel within a predetermined area by constructing interior surfaces of walls and bottom of a molten fuel container with high-melting materials, fixing at an upper opening a fuel assembly support cover, and forming a thru-hole in the bottom. Constitution: A plurality of cover-fitted support elements for fuel assemblies are mounted and fixed on the supports in the reactor container, with leg pipes inserted in insert holes. Fuel assemblies are fitted in insert holes of the support elements to make up the core. If the power increases due to an accident, causing failure of fuel cans installed in bundle in the assemblies, most of the molten fuel falls to the bottom of the container. As the bottom is graded down from center to periphery, the molten fuel settles much in the peripheral area, but the part is lined with high-melting material so that the part will not be melted. (Yoshihara, H.)