Fuel assembly with a flow-aiding spacer

US5420902A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Heinrich Dressel · Prüm, DE
• Stefan Linden · Erlangen, DE
• Hans-Joachim Lippert · Hochstädt, DE
• Werner Meier · Burlington, US
• Roland Rink · Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 18, 1993
• Grant date: May 30, 1995
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A fuel assembly includes a cluster of mutually parallel fuel rods. A fuel assembly channel laterally surrounds the cluster of fuel rods and has a substantially rectangular cross section and flat channel walls. Grid-like spacers having meshes formed therein each receive a respective one of the fuel rods for guiding the fuel rods in a plurality of axial positions. At least one support spring laterally supports each respective one of the fuel rods in the mesh guiding the fuel rod. Each of the spacers have inner ribs being aligned parallel to the fuel rods and outer peripheral ribs opposite the channel walls. At least some of the inner ribs are fastened to the peripheral ribs, and the outer peripheral ribs are joined together only by the inner ribs.