Nuclear reactor spacer grid loading
Creators
Description
A nuclear fuel assembly containing generally cylindrical fuel rods, is described comprising: a top nozzle; a bottom nozzle, a control rod guide thimble extending between the top and bottom nozzles; fuel rod spacer grid assemblies axially disposed along the control rod guide thimble for maintaining the fuel rods in a spaced lateral array. Each of the spacer grid assemblies comprises grid straps interlocked into an egg-crate configuration to form cells through which the fuel rods pass. Each of the cells has a grid spring and at least one opposing dimple. Each grid spring and opposing dimple has a first selected spring force for a lowermost grid, a second selected spring force for an intermediate grid, and a third selected spring force for an uppermost grid less than the first and second spring forces. The first, second and third spring forces allow the fuel rods to expand in their respective cells
Availability note (English)
U.S. Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231, USA, $.50.Additional details
Publishing Information
- Imprint Pagination
- vp.
- IPC:
- Int. Cl. G21C 3/34.
- IPC
- Int. Cl. G21C 3/34.
- Patent number
- US patent document 4,744,942/A/
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 19093275
- Subject category
- S22: GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Non-conventional Literature
- Descriptors DEI
- CONTROL ELEMENTS; FUEL ASSEMBLIES; FUEL RODS; NOZZLES; SPACERS; SPECIFICATIONS
- Descriptors DEC
- FUEL ELEMENTS; REACTOR COMPONENTS