Holddown device for nuclear fuel assembly

Details Holddown device for nuclear fuel assembly Holddown device for nuclear fuel assembly

1976-07-26

1978-03-14

Nelson, Peter A.

176 76, G21C 330

Patent

active

040789675

ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for preventing "floating" of nuclear-reactor fuel assemblies due to hydraulic forces is disclosed. The apparatus uses a holddown column made of the same material as the core barrel. The column is positioned in a center guide-tube location in the fuel assembly in such a manner as to enable it either to slide within the center guide tube or, if the center guide tube is replaced by the column, to slide through openings in the spacer grids. The lower end of the holddown column engages the lower end fitting of the fuel assembly, and the upper end of the column engages a flow plate to which holddown force is applied. As a consequence of this arrangement, holddown force is transmitted from the flow plate through the holddown column to the lower end fitting. Movement of the fuel assembly is thereby prevented without a compression load being applied to the fuel-assembly structure. In addition, variations due to thermal expansion in the distance between the lower core plate and the upper core plate are largely made up for by corresponding variations in the holddown column because the holddown column and the core barrel can be made of the same material.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3431170 (1969-03-01), Lass et al.
patent: 3770583 (1973-11-01), Klumb et al.
patent: 3775249 (1973-11-01), Clapham
patent: 3791466 (1974-02-01), Patterson et al.
patent: 3814667 (1974-06-01), Klumb et al.
patent: 3846234 (1974-11-01), Class et al.

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