Patent · US Expired

Debris filters with flow bypass for boiling water reactors

US5390221A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
62References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1993
Grant dateFeb 14, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2013

Classification

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

Abstract

In a boiling water nuclear reactor fuel bundle, a debris catching arrangement is disclosed for incorporation within the flow plenum up stream or below the rod supporting grid of the lower tie plate assembly. The device is preferably placed within the lower tie plate flow plenum between the fuel bundle inlet and the rod supporting grid structure supporting the fuel rods; alternate placement can include any inlet channel upstream of the fuel rods including the fuel support casting. The disclosed debris catching designs include strainer structures defining spatially separated straining or obstructing layers imparting to the fluid in the plenum a circuitous flow path. This circuitous flow path causes the two phase separation of the heavier debris from the lighter transporting water by flow direction change with the debris directed and detoured to a trapping structure. Further, a strainer structure is provided in the plenum that does not constitute a continuum of fine structure across the strained plenum which might become clogged to the extend that overall flow is restricted. The strainer structure is positioned so that eventual trapping of the debris occurs upon cessation of flow so t…

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