Spacer for retaining fuel rods in a nuclear reactor fuel assembly
US5285487A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacer for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes a cell-formed lattice-work for retaining parallel, elongated elements such as fuel rods (4) into a bundle of substantially square cross section. The cells are formed from tubular, preferably round sleeves (1). Each one of these offers a passage for one of the elements for mutually fixing these elements. Each spacer is formed from two sub-spacers (5) somewhat spaced-apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the bundle. A first sub-spacer in a pair fixes elements lying substantially on one side of a diagonal through the bundle, and a second sub-spacer fixes the other elements such that elements passing through the sleeves (1) of the first sub-spacer pass, possibly with some exception, at the side of the sleeves in the second sub-spacer and vice versa.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.