Abb Atom Ab

Westinghouse Electric Sweden Ab

Anders Soderlund

Lars Hallstadius

Mats Dahlback

Anders Wallander

Torsten Olsson

Magnus Gronlund

A fuel assembly for a nuclear boiling water reactor is provided. The reactor comprises a plurality of such fuel assemblies and a plurality of control rods. Each control rod is insertable between the fuel assemblies. The fuel assembly has a longitudinal center axis and includes a plurality of elongated fuel rods and an elongated channel box. The channel box has inner sides, facing the fuel rods, and outer sides. Each inner and outer side has a longitudinal center line extending in parallel with the center axis and along the length of the channel box. A number of protrusions are distributed along the center line of at least two of the outer sides. The protrusions are configured to ensure a minimum distance between the outer side and an adjacent control rod and to enable the control rod to easily slide over and on top of the protrusions.

Fuel assembly

A fuel assembly (16) for a boiling-water nuclear reactor arranged in groups with four fuel assemblies in each group and with a centrally placed control rod (17) forming a supercell. Each fuel assembly (16) includes a plurality of vertical fuel rods (12) with enriched nuclear fuel material (24), said rods being arranged between a bottom tie plate (13) and a top tie plate (14) in a surrounding vertical fuel channel (1) which is connected to a transition section (2). The transition section is provided with holes (20a-d) for by-pass flow outside the fuel assembly. The fuel assembly is characterized in that the by-pass holes are arranged in such a way that when turning the fuel assembly (16), including the transition section (2), 90.degree., 180.degree. or 270.degree. around the longitudinal axis of the fuel assembly, said holes are adapted to direct the by-pass flow away from the control rod (17).

Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor

A fuel assembly for a light-water nuclear reactor includes a plurality of vertical fuel rods (10) which are arranged, in spaced relationship in the lateral direction, between a bottom tie plate (11) and a top tie plate (12). The bottom tie plate and the top tie plate are provided with through-holes (35) 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 (36) is arranged which includes helical springs (40) that are arranged in a frame having at least two ends (37, 38) in the form of substantially parallel plates, the flat sides of which are interconnected via pins (39). The pins are arranged in spaced relationship in at least two rows between the ends in such a way that the springs, in spaced relationship or adjacent to each other, can be fixed between the rows of pins in one or more layers.

Fuel element for a light-water nuclear reactor

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.

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Surahammar, Sweden

Anders Soderlund