Nuclear reactor fuel sub-assemblies

Claim 2

A nuclear reactor fuel sub-assembly comprising: a tubular wrapper for conducting coolant flow, a bundle of spaced fuel pins within the tubular wrapper, and variable flow restriction means disposed in a region of the sub-assembly which is upstream of the fuel pins with respect to coolant flow, the restriction means comprising means defining a plurality of discrete axially extending ducts for coolant flow, a series of spaced flow restrictors within the ducts, the restrictors of each duct being arranged to offer a different restriction to fluid flow than the restrictors in the other ducts, and a valve member for directing coolant flow through a selected one of the ducts.

Claim 3

A fuel sub-assembly according to claim 1 having a spike for engaging a fuel assembly support diagrid of a nuclear reactor, the spike defining an inlet port for coolant flow to the sub-assembly, and wherein the variable flow restriction means comprises: relatively rotatable inner and outer tubular members, the outer member forming an extension of the tubular wrapper and the inner member forming an extension of the spike means, a series of spaced, transverse discs having at least three groups of apertures arranged in sectors, the apertures in each sector being of different size to those in the other sectors, axially extending baffles defining the discrete ducts through series sectors of apertures, a central shaft drivingly connected to the outer tube, an apertured plate constituting a valve member carried by the central shaft, and indexing means releasably locking the inner and outer members against relative rotation.

Claim 4

A fuel sub-assembly according to claim 2 wherein there is a spring loaded pawl and stop mechanism arranged to ensure unidirectional rotation of the valve member.