Patent · US Active

Method for assembling a pressurized water reactor core, and reactor core configuration

US7668282B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

8References

6Claims

0Family size

Assignee

AREVA NP · FR

Inventors

Jurgen Stabel · Erlangen, DE
Mingmin Ren · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jun 12, 2003
Grant date	Feb 23, 2010
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 20, 2027

Classification

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

Abstract

The core of a pressurized water reactor is assembled in such a way that if the fuel elements on the edge of the core are bent, these fuel elements are oriented such that the bending of the fuel elements points outwards in a convex manner. When the reactor is in operation, forces arise which increase the size of small gaps between the fuel elements at the expense of greater gaps and counteract the bending effect of the fuel elements.

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