摘要:
A fuel bundle assembly for a nuclear reactor includes an elongated, open ended channel (116) having an interior flow area which increases in the upper portion of the channel (116); a plurality of fuel rods in the channel (116) including full length rods (120) extending substantially the length of the channel (116) and at least one part length fuel rod (120 1 ) having an axial length shorter than the full length rods (120). A plurality of spacers (S) laterally support the full length fuel rods (120) and the one or more part length fuel rods (120 1 ) along respective axial lengths thereof, and one (S 1 ) of the spacers (S) in an upward flow direction which is the last spacer which supports all of the full length and part length fuel rods (120,120 1 ), is located in an upper region of the channel (116) where the interior flow area is increased.
摘要:
In a fuel bundle having an array of fuel rods of 9-by-9 or greater, removal of the corner fuel rods from the array occurs. This removal enables the remainder of the array rod-to -rod pitch to be decreased. Further, and over this array with the corner fuel rod removed, a fuel bundle channel having rounded corners of increased radius of curvature or flattened corners imparting a broadly taped curvature is utilized. In both cases, the effective flat span of the fuel bundle sides is reduced with the result that the new fuel bundle incorporates improved resistance to channel bulge with improved critical power.
摘要:
A fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel rods (3) supported by an upper tie plate (7) and a lower tie plate (8) respectively at each of upper end portion and lower end portion, and a channel box (2, 2A) surrounding a bundle of the fuel rods (3) and the lower tie plate (8). The fuel assembly forms a natural uranium region at lower end portion of effective fuel length portion. A wall thickness at a lower thick wall region of the channel box (2, 2A) is thicker than the wall thickness at a region locating upward from the lower thick wall region and between corner portions of the channel box. Upper end of the lower thick wall region locates upward from upside of the lower tie plate and downward from upper end of the natural uranium region. A wall thickness at the corner portion of the channel box (2, 2A) is thicker than the wall thickness at middle portion of said wall between the corner positions at the region locating upward from the lower thick wall region. The fuel assembly is able to reduce stresses caused in the channel box (2, 2A) in an earthquake, and, is able to improve fuel economy.