Nuclear fuel assembly
US4795608A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nuclear fuel assembly for a boiling reactor comprises a plurality of fuel rods arranged in four sub-bundles surrounded by a fuel channel of substantially square cross-section. A vertical channel-formed support member for the passage of water, separates the sub-bundles of fuel rods. By arranging each sub-bundle with a reduced corner portion by not locating a fuel rod in that corner of the sub-bundle towards the center of the fuel assembly, the sub-bundles can be located in a separating channel-formed support member with an enlarged central channel. The enlarged central channel makes it possible to contain a larger quantity of non-boiling water in the central part of the fuel assembly, which results in better neutron moderation in the central part of the fuel assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.