Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Fuel component structure – Plural fuel segments or elements
Patent
1983-03-09
1986-04-29
Walsh, Donald P.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Fuel component structure
Plural fuel segments or elements
376438, 376439, 376443, 376448, G21C 334
Patent
active
045856150
ABSTRACT:
A nuclear fuel spacer grid with improved grid straps. The grid has an egg-crate array of interleaved grid straps creating cells for enclosing the fuel rods. Near beginning of life in the reactor, the grid straps bend in a spring-like manner to flexibly grip the fuel rods with their preferably rigid protrusions. In a cell, the protrusions on two non-opposing grid straps are closed to longitudinal coolant flow while the protrusions on the remaining grid straps associated with the cell are open to such flow. Near end of life the grid straps loose resiliency due to irradiation--induced stress relaxation and the fuel rod has a loose fit against the protrusions due to radiation effects. However, the fuel rod is held in position in the cell by the coolant flow therethrough which forces the fuel rod away from the closed protrusions and into contact with the open protrusions. The protrusions in one cell are coplanar. The protrusions in the cells lie in one of two longitudinally separated planes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3255091 (1966-06-01), Frisch
patent: 3377254 (1968-04-01), Frisch
patent: 4389369 (1983-06-01), Bryan
Erickson D. E.
Walsh Donald P.
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
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