CA1168768A - Fuel assembly with a water flow separated from the fuel rods - Google Patents
Fuel assembly with a water flow separated from the fuel rodsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1168768A CA1168768A CA000388905A CA388905A CA1168768A CA 1168768 A CA1168768 A CA 1168768A CA 000388905 A CA000388905 A CA 000388905A CA 388905 A CA388905 A CA 388905A CA 1168768 A CA1168768 A CA 1168768A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fuel
- fuel assembly
- water
- base
- vertical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
- G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
- G21C3/322—Means to influence the coolant flow through or around the bundles
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
- G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
- G21C3/322—Means to influence the coolant flow through or around the bundles
- G21C3/3225—Means to influence the coolant flow through or around the bundles by waterrods
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Monitoring And Testing Of Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
- Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
- Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
A fuel assembly for a boiling reactor is provided with at least one vertical channel for a by-pass flow flow-ing through the fuel assembly. At its lower end the channel is connected to a radial tube which opens out at the outer side surface of the fuel assembly. Below the radial tube, the wall of the assembly base is provided with a through-hole.
A fuel assembly for a boiling reactor is provided with at least one vertical channel for a by-pass flow flow-ing through the fuel assembly. At its lower end the channel is connected to a radial tube which opens out at the outer side surface of the fuel assembly. Below the radial tube, the wall of the assembly base is provided with a through-hole.
Description
~ 1~876~
Fuel assembl,~ _ith a water ~1~el@a~arated f ' ~
The present invent:ion relates to a fuel assembly with a lower lattice device and a plurality of fuel rods supported by said lattice de~ics, a ~uel box which surrounds all the fuel rods~ and a base with a downwardly-faoing inlet opening for reactor coolant, the fuel assembly having at least one ~ertical water channel for a water flow flowing along the fuel rods but being separated from these.
Dis~ g~ r ~r~
.
More p æticularly, the invention relates to a a fuel assembly which is constructed in such a way that it shall be capable of being used, with advantage, in a boiling water reactor which is originally intended ~or fuel assemblies having no water channel Or the kind mentioned f above, without it being necessary to introduce any considera~le ohange of the other oomponents of the reaotor. A problem, which will then be encountered, is how to achieve a necessary by-pass ~low through the central water channel/channels when the reactor power is being reduced by reducing the speed of the circulatin~ pumps. With a fuel assembly acoording to the in~ention, an automatic adjuetment of the water flow supplied to the above-mentioned vertioal water channels takes place in such a manner that the magnitude of this ~low i9 dependent on the magDitude of the power supplied to these water channels, : : ~: : :
-1_ : :
.~-:: :
, ' , :~ 168~6~1 ., Disclosure of the Invention A fuel assembly according to the invention ic intended to be arranged in a reactor core in a conventional manner, with four fuel assemblies in each core module, water ~aps between adjacent asæemblies, and a control rod of cruciform cross-section in each module. In addition to the flow flowing along the filel rods and in contact therewith, the reactor core is traversed by a first by-pass flow, which is located at the above-mentioned gaps formed between the fuel assemblies, and by a second by-pass flow which iB located at the above-mentioned vertical water channels.
According to the invention, there is provided a fuel a~sembly having a verti-cal center line and comprising a lower lattice devi¢e and a plurality o' ver-tical fuel rods supported by said lattice devioe, a fuel box which surrounds all the fuel rods, and a sleeve-like base with a downwardly-faoing inlet opening for reactor coolant, the fuel assembly having at least one vertical water channel for a water flow flowing along the fuel rods and being sepa-rated therefrom, wherein said at least one vertical water channel is hydraul-ically connected at its lower end to at least one substantially radially extending channel opening out at the side swrface of the fuel assembly, the wall of said base being provided with at least one through-hole, said at least one through-hole being positioned at a lower level than the outlet openings of said substantially radial channels and being arranged in hydrawlic connection with said inlet opening via a space s~rrounded by said base.
~rief ~escription of D a~
An embodiment of a fuel as6embly according to the in~ention will be described in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 4 on the accompanying schema-tic dxawings.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section along I-I of Figures 2 and 3; Figures 2 and 3 show horizontal seotions along II-II and III-III, respectively, of Fig~re 1; Figure 4 6hows a partial vertical section along IV-IV of Figure 2.
.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 1 designates a casing tube which is attached to a sleeve-formed base 2. The casing tube 19 which i8 composed of four mutually equal sheet-metal elements 1~, interconnected by means of four vertical strips 1", surrounds sixty-four fuel rods 3 9 twelve smaller water tubes 4 and one larger, central watar tube 5. Each water tube forms a vertical channel extending along the fuel rodsand oonducting a 8 '~ ~ ~
water flow flowing along the fuel rods but being separated therefrom.The water tubes are mechanically connec-ted to each other by means of a plurality of long-ish linking members 6, which are attached with their ends to the strips 1".
The fuel rods 3 rest with their lower ends on a bottom lattice 7, which rests on two vertical supporting plates 8, which are welded to a hollow~
cruciform water distributing member 9. This is provided wi-th connection openings for the water tubes 4 and 5. The connection openings are constructed with annular supporting æurfaces, aga:inst which the water tubes 4 and 5 rest by their lower end surfaces. The water distributing member 9 is provided with at least one (e.g. four) substantially radial tube 10, through which the space surrounded by the member 9 oommunicates with the space located radially outside the base 2. The fuel assembly has a circular, downwardly-facing inlet opening which is surrounded by a substantially annu-lar end surface 13 of the sleeve-formed base 2. A guide member 14, which consists of a ring 14" and ~ plurality of rods 14' attached thereto, .... . . . .. _ _ . . . . .
is arranged below the sleeve-formed base 2. The fuel assembly sho~m has a vertical center line and is intended to be suppor-ted, together with three ~imilar fuel assemblies, by a common supporting plate intended for four fuel assemblies, said supporting plate being oonstructed with a conical supporting surface and a circular throttling opening for each fuel assembly. ~elow the radial tubes 10 and below the water distributing member 9, the wall of the base 2 is provided with at least one through-hole 12.
.
When the flow paths of the described fuel assemblyare dimensioned in such a way that an optimum by-pass flow through the water tubes 4 and 5 is obtained at full reactor power, it cannot be avoided that a certain amount of boiling takes place in the water tubes 4 and 5 when the reactor power is reduced to a minimum by reducing the speed of the circulating pumps. ~o a certain extent such boiling æives rise to void formation at the upper part of the water tubes, which results in the pressure being considerably reduced in the water distributor 9, water thus flowing in through the channels 10 from the gaps located between the fuel assemblies. At a fully acceptable value of the void formation, the corresponding increase of the water flow through the radial channels 10 will be so ~reat that a state of equilibrium will be created~
Fuel assembl,~ _ith a water ~1~el@a~arated f ' ~
The present invent:ion relates to a fuel assembly with a lower lattice device and a plurality of fuel rods supported by said lattice de~ics, a ~uel box which surrounds all the fuel rods~ and a base with a downwardly-faoing inlet opening for reactor coolant, the fuel assembly having at least one ~ertical water channel for a water flow flowing along the fuel rods but being separated from these.
Dis~ g~ r ~r~
.
More p æticularly, the invention relates to a a fuel assembly which is constructed in such a way that it shall be capable of being used, with advantage, in a boiling water reactor which is originally intended ~or fuel assemblies having no water channel Or the kind mentioned f above, without it being necessary to introduce any considera~le ohange of the other oomponents of the reaotor. A problem, which will then be encountered, is how to achieve a necessary by-pass ~low through the central water channel/channels when the reactor power is being reduced by reducing the speed of the circulatin~ pumps. With a fuel assembly acoording to the in~ention, an automatic adjuetment of the water flow supplied to the above-mentioned vertioal water channels takes place in such a manner that the magnitude of this ~low i9 dependent on the magDitude of the power supplied to these water channels, : : ~: : :
-1_ : :
.~-:: :
, ' , :~ 168~6~1 ., Disclosure of the Invention A fuel assembly according to the invention ic intended to be arranged in a reactor core in a conventional manner, with four fuel assemblies in each core module, water ~aps between adjacent asæemblies, and a control rod of cruciform cross-section in each module. In addition to the flow flowing along the filel rods and in contact therewith, the reactor core is traversed by a first by-pass flow, which is located at the above-mentioned gaps formed between the fuel assemblies, and by a second by-pass flow which iB located at the above-mentioned vertical water channels.
According to the invention, there is provided a fuel a~sembly having a verti-cal center line and comprising a lower lattice devi¢e and a plurality o' ver-tical fuel rods supported by said lattice devioe, a fuel box which surrounds all the fuel rods, and a sleeve-like base with a downwardly-faoing inlet opening for reactor coolant, the fuel assembly having at least one vertical water channel for a water flow flowing along the fuel rods and being sepa-rated therefrom, wherein said at least one vertical water channel is hydraul-ically connected at its lower end to at least one substantially radially extending channel opening out at the side swrface of the fuel assembly, the wall of said base being provided with at least one through-hole, said at least one through-hole being positioned at a lower level than the outlet openings of said substantially radial channels and being arranged in hydrawlic connection with said inlet opening via a space s~rrounded by said base.
~rief ~escription of D a~
An embodiment of a fuel as6embly according to the in~ention will be described in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 4 on the accompanying schema-tic dxawings.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section along I-I of Figures 2 and 3; Figures 2 and 3 show horizontal seotions along II-II and III-III, respectively, of Fig~re 1; Figure 4 6hows a partial vertical section along IV-IV of Figure 2.
.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 1 designates a casing tube which is attached to a sleeve-formed base 2. The casing tube 19 which i8 composed of four mutually equal sheet-metal elements 1~, interconnected by means of four vertical strips 1", surrounds sixty-four fuel rods 3 9 twelve smaller water tubes 4 and one larger, central watar tube 5. Each water tube forms a vertical channel extending along the fuel rodsand oonducting a 8 '~ ~ ~
water flow flowing along the fuel rods but being separated therefrom.The water tubes are mechanically connec-ted to each other by means of a plurality of long-ish linking members 6, which are attached with their ends to the strips 1".
The fuel rods 3 rest with their lower ends on a bottom lattice 7, which rests on two vertical supporting plates 8, which are welded to a hollow~
cruciform water distributing member 9. This is provided wi-th connection openings for the water tubes 4 and 5. The connection openings are constructed with annular supporting æurfaces, aga:inst which the water tubes 4 and 5 rest by their lower end surfaces. The water distributing member 9 is provided with at least one (e.g. four) substantially radial tube 10, through which the space surrounded by the member 9 oommunicates with the space located radially outside the base 2. The fuel assembly has a circular, downwardly-facing inlet opening which is surrounded by a substantially annu-lar end surface 13 of the sleeve-formed base 2. A guide member 14, which consists of a ring 14" and ~ plurality of rods 14' attached thereto, .... . . . .. _ _ . . . . .
is arranged below the sleeve-formed base 2. The fuel assembly sho~m has a vertical center line and is intended to be suppor-ted, together with three ~imilar fuel assemblies, by a common supporting plate intended for four fuel assemblies, said supporting plate being oonstructed with a conical supporting surface and a circular throttling opening for each fuel assembly. ~elow the radial tubes 10 and below the water distributing member 9, the wall of the base 2 is provided with at least one through-hole 12.
.
When the flow paths of the described fuel assemblyare dimensioned in such a way that an optimum by-pass flow through the water tubes 4 and 5 is obtained at full reactor power, it cannot be avoided that a certain amount of boiling takes place in the water tubes 4 and 5 when the reactor power is reduced to a minimum by reducing the speed of the circulating pumps. ~o a certain extent such boiling æives rise to void formation at the upper part of the water tubes, which results in the pressure being considerably reduced in the water distributor 9, water thus flowing in through the channels 10 from the gaps located between the fuel assemblies. At a fully acceptable value of the void formation, the corresponding increase of the water flow through the radial channels 10 will be so ~reat that a state of equilibrium will be created~
Claims (2)
1. Fuel assembly having a vertical center line and comprising a lower lattice device and a plurality of vertical fuel rods supported by said lattice device, a fuel box which surrounds all the fuel rods, and a sleeve-like base with a downwardly-facing inlet opening for reactor coolant, the fuel assembly having at least one vertical water channel for a water flow flowing along the fuel rods and being separated therefrom, wherein said at least one vertical water channel is hydraulically connected at its lower end to at least one substantially radially extending channel opening out at the side surface of the fuel assembly, the wall of said base being provided with at least one through-hole, said at least one through-hole being positioned at a lower level than the outlet openings of said substan-tially radial channels and being arranged in hydraulic con-nection with said inlet opening via a space surrounded by said base.
2. Fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fuel assembly has a plurality of water channels in the form of a plurality of vertical water tubes, which are arranged in two rows which intersect each other at said vertical center line of the fuel assembly, the lower ends of said water tubes being arranged to be supported by and to open out into a cruciform hollow body supported by said base, said radially extending channels extending from said hollow body.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE8007592A SE424236B (en) | 1980-10-29 | 1980-10-29 | FUEL CARTRIDGE FOR A COOKING REACTOR |
| SE8007592-2 | 1980-10-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1168768A true CA1168768A (en) | 1984-06-05 |
Family
ID=20342111
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000388905A Expired CA1168768A (en) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-10-28 | Fuel assembly with a water flow separated from the fuel rods |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0050836B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS57101792A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1168768A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3172053D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES281689Y (en) |
| FI (1) | FI70093C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE424236B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE431691B (en) * | 1982-07-12 | 1984-02-20 | Asea Atom Ab | KERNBRENSLEPATRON |
| DE3540466A1 (en) * | 1985-11-14 | 1987-05-21 | Kraftwerk Union Ag | CORE REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT |
| US4889684A (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1989-12-26 | General Electric Company | Hydraulic reinforcement of channel at lower tie-plate in BWR fuel bundle |
| SE509236C2 (en) * | 1993-06-03 | 1998-12-21 | Asea Atom Ab | Boiler water reactor fuel cartridge |
| EP2065898A1 (en) * | 2007-12-01 | 2009-06-03 | AREVA NP GmbH | Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE598378A (en) * | 1960-01-07 | 1900-01-01 | ||
| JPS4315225Y1 (en) * | 1965-09-11 | 1968-06-26 | ||
| DE1564994B2 (en) * | 1966-09-27 | 1977-06-08 | United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, London | CORE OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR |
| GB1561896A (en) * | 1976-10-18 | 1980-03-05 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Nuclear fuel for liquid metal cooled nuclear reactors |
| JPS606280Y2 (en) * | 1977-11-22 | 1985-02-27 | サンデン株式会社 | Outside air blocking device with front and rear sliding doors |
-
1980
- 1980-10-29 SE SE8007592A patent/SE424236B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1981
- 1981-10-06 ES ES1981281689U patent/ES281689Y/en not_active Expired
- 1981-10-22 EP EP81108683A patent/EP0050836B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-10-22 DE DE8181108683T patent/DE3172053D1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-10-27 JP JP56171960A patent/JPS57101792A/en active Granted
- 1981-10-27 FI FI813361A patent/FI70093C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-10-28 CA CA000388905A patent/CA1168768A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FI70093C (en) | 1986-09-12 |
| FI70093B (en) | 1986-01-31 |
| SE424236B (en) | 1982-07-05 |
| EP0050836B1 (en) | 1985-08-28 |
| JPS57101792A (en) | 1982-06-24 |
| ES281689U (en) | 1985-05-01 |
| ES281689Y (en) | 1985-12-01 |
| DE3172053D1 (en) | 1985-10-03 |
| JPH0153437B2 (en) | 1989-11-14 |
| SE8007592L (en) | 1982-04-30 |
| FI813361L (en) | 1982-04-30 |
| EP0050836A1 (en) | 1982-05-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |