Nuclear reactor fuel assembly
US4859407A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor comprising a bundle of longitudinal fuel rods which are insertable into the fuel assembly and held together by spacers (1), consisting of cells, arranged along the bundle. The wall of the fuel assembly towards the bundle of fuel rods is provided with a number of first locking members (5) arranged in the longitudial direction of the wall, and the spacers (1) are provided with a second locking member. The second locking member comprises at least two interconnected rods (3), one rod consisting of material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and the other rod consisting of material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. These rods have been adapted, in dependence on the temperature in the reactor in operation, to bring the second locking member into engagement with the first locking members (5) and to release the same when the reactor is shutdown.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.