Flow deflector for nuclear fuel element assemblies

Claim 2

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said deflector cones are each generally pyramidal in shape having a square base and four deflecting side wall surfaces, said side wall surfaces being oriented so as to face four adjacent fuel elements.

Claim 3

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said side wall surfaces are concave and wherein the center of curvature of said concavity generally corresponds to the center of said adjacent fuel element whereby an intermittent annular space is formed between each fuel element and the adjacent deflector cones.

Claim 4

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said deflector cones comprises a grid formed from a plurality of cross-laced interengaging straps, said cones being attached to said grid at the intersections of said straps.

Claim 5

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said grid includes means for engaging and supporting said fuel elements.

Claim 6

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said deflector cones includes a slot in one end thereof extending from one corner to the opposite corner and a slot in the opposite end thereof extending between the other two corners and wherein a first strap extending in one direction passes through one slot and a strap extending perpendicularly to said first strap passes through the other slot whereby said deflector cone is trapped between said straps.

Claim 7

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel fuel elements arranged in a plurality of intersecting rows and forming longitudinal coolant flow channels therebetween, a grid structure formed from a plurality of cross-laced interengaging straps, said straps interposed between adjacent rows of said fuel elements forming fuel element compartments, a plurality of generally pyramidal deflector cones located in said coolant flow channels and mounted on said grid structure at the intersection of said straps, said deflector cones having square bases located downstream with respect to the direction of coolant flow and apexes located upstrEam, and a plurality of fuel element support rings surrounding said deflector cones, said rings extending into said fuel element compartments so as to engage and support said fuel elements.

Claim 8

A nuclear reactor fuel assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said deflector cones each have four deflecting side walls each oriented so as to face an adjacent fuel element, said deflector cones each being formed from sheet metal and wherein the portions of each side wall at the juncture of said side walls extend outwardly parallel to and spaced from the adjacent outwardly extending side wall portion, said adjacent outwardly extending portions terminating and joined together in a line extending vertically from the corners of said base, slots formed in said portions where joined together, said slots being formed only partially through two opposite portions from said base end and only partially through the other two opposite portions from said apex end, said cross-laced interengaging straps containing vertical slots which are interengaged with said slots in said portions from opposite ends of said deflector cone whereby said deflector cone is held between said straps, said vertical slots further including cut-outs in which said support rings are positioned around said deflector cones.