Non-levitating PWR fuel assembly
US5274685A · kind A · utility
15Cited by
33References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An arrangement for supporting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor has upper and lower reactor core support plates, upper and lower tie plates for supporting fuel rods and a coolant path through the assembly. The improvement comprises a redesigned lower tie plate for providing an upward biasing force to the assembly for forcing the upper tie plate against the upper reactor core support plate. The biasing force is in the same direction as a levitation force caused by coolant flow through the assembly. In a preferred form, the tie plate includes an upper and lower section with hold-up springs disposed between the two sections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.