Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Fuel component structure – Plural fuel segments or elements
Patent
1993-01-05
1995-01-17
Walsh, Donald P.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Fuel component structure
Plural fuel segments or elements
376438, 376349, G21C 332
Patent
active
053832299
ABSTRACT:
A second fuel rod positioned at each corner of a channel box and second fuel rods adjacent to the former are formed to have a smaller outer diameter than that of ordinary first fuel rods, so that a pitch between the second fuel rods is narrower than a pitch between the first fuel rods. Making the outer diameter of the second fuel rods smaller than that of the first fuel rods reduces the power per unit length of the second fuel rods. The narrower pitch between the second fuel rods than the pitch between the first fuel rods provides two effects. First, a unit lattice cell becomes so small as to avoid an increase in the H/U ratio. Secondly, a new moderator region is formed between the second fuel rods and the first fuel rods adjacent thereto, the moderator region acting to intensify thermal neutron flux around those first fuel rods. These two effects enable a further reduction in the power per unit length of the second fuel rods. As a result, a fuel assembly intended for higher burn-up can be realized by increasing enrichment, while suppressing an increase in the local power peaking factor at corners of the fuel assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4708845 (1987-11-01), Mildrum et al.
patent: 4926450 (1990-05-01), Masuhara et al.
patent: 5128097 (1992-07-01), Fukasawa et al.
Aoyama Motoo
Ishibashi Yoko
Kurihara Kunitoshi
Nakajima Akinobu
Nakajima Junjiro
Hitachi , Ltd.
Voss Frederick H.
Walsh Donald P.
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