Patent · US Expired

Fuel element for a light-water nuclear reactor

US5471514A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
9References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1993
Grant dateNov 28, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A fuel assembly for a light-water nuclear reactor includes a plurality of vertical fuel rods (12) which are arranged, in spaced relationship in the lateral direction, between a bottom tie plate (13) and a top tie plate (14). The bottom tie plate and the top tie plate are provided with through-holes (17a) for inlet and outlet of coolant for the fuel rods. Below the bottom tie plate, in the flow path of the water, a debris catcher (18) is arranged. The debris catcher includes at least one helical spring (19) which is fixed in a holder permeable to the coolant and defining at least one slot which is formed as a plane spiral (30) or several concentric annular slots (23, 27) in which slot/slots the helical spring/helical springs is/are arranged.

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