Patent · US Expired

Additional grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, and assembly comprising an application thereof

US5183629A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
10References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 1991
Grant dateFeb 2, 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

The additional mixing grid has no belt and comprises at least two sets of crossed plates that are fixed to each other at their cross-points, the plates being fitted with fins for stirring the coolant, and delimiting cells, some for receiving guide tubes and the others for receiving fuel rods. Each plate is provided, on each of the faces of those internal cells that receive the rods, with bosses that project sufficiently little to leave radial clearance for the rods passing through the cells and the projection of the bosses is proportioned relative to the projection of the fins so that in the event of bending vibration the rods come into contact with the bosses without reaching the fins, the lengths of the plates being such that the footprint of the additional grid is less than the footprint of the polygon constituting the virtual envelope of the rods.

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