Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Georges Clottes

Jean Skok

Andre Cayol

Pierre Loriot

Henri Venobre

Jean-Pierre Praizey

Andre Chalony

The fuel assembly comprises at least one cluster of canned-fuel pins disposed on a uniform lattice within a sleeve defining a duct through which a coolant is circulated. Each fuel pin is provided at least over the greater part of its length with a helical spacer member which determines the minimum spacing between the fuel pin and the adjacent pins or the sleeve. The internal face of the sleeve is provided with recesses in which the spacer members of the lateral pins of the cluster are partially engaged. The fuel assembly finds an application in nuclear reactors of the liquid-sodium-cooled fast breeder type.

Nuclear fuel assembly

A nuclear fuel sub-assembly comprises a bundle of fuel pins provided with helical spacers and located within a shroud for the coolant. The sub-channels at the periphery of the bundle are restricted in order that the rate of flow matches the heat transfer surfaces in all sub-channels. For this purpose the spacers of the outer pins project radially by an extent smaller than the spacers of the inner pins. In addition longitudinal ribs may be provided in the outer sub-channels.

Nuclear fuel subassembly

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Manosque, France

Georges Clottes