Patent · US Expired

Grid having mixing fins for a nuclear fuel assembly

US5180548A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 1991
Grant dateJan 19, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2011

Classification

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

Abstract

A mixing grid for use in a pressurized reactor comprises at least two sets of crossed fixed together at their cross-points, delimiting cells, some for receiving fuel rods and the others for receiving guide tubes, the plates being provided with coolant stirring fins extending the plates downstream and disposed to deflect the coolant transversely to its general flow direction, each plate being provided with abutment means projecting inwardly from each of the faces of the cells for receiving fuel rods, thereby delimiting a passage that is larger than the size of the rods but small enough to prevent a rod contained in the cell coming into contact with the fins. In each wall the abutment means comprise two portions of plate that are cut out and deformed into a scoop-shape, and that are offset relative to each other in the coolant flow direction, with the scoops projecting in opposite directions and tending to cause coolant to pass from one cell to another.

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