Patent · US Expired

Reduced flow resistance cast lower end fitting

US5071617A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
14References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1989
Grant dateDec 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Pressurized water reactor fuel bundles (10) have a cast lower end fitting (20) which provides reduced pressure drop because nozzles (24) are of polygonal (rectangular or square) cross-section and the flow entrance wall portion (32) is a parabolic shape which merges into a wall portion (30) parallel to the flow direction. The parabolic shape of portion (32) and fillets (24a) at the nozzle (24) corners also give an improved draft to the casting. Pressure drop reduction was substantially greater than standard calculations indicated would be obtained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.