US4781885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly
Assignee: Kraftwerk Union AG
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Filing: 1986-11-04
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Granted: 1988-11-01
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Expires: 2006-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes an elongated fuel channel with a square cross section and channel walls, the fuel channel having an imaginary lattice disposed therein with a box-shaped cross section having mesh openings and sides parallel to the channel walls, fuel rods containing nuclear fuel being mutually spaced apart in the mesh openings, and a prismatic water pipe spaced apart from the fuel channel by a given spacing and having a cross section spanning more than one of the mesh openings of the imaginary lattice, the given spacing being completely filled with the mesh openings of the imaginary lattice and the fuel rods disposed therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunther Lill
- 👤 Rolf Holzer
- 👤 Hans Lettau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/322; G21C3/3225; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising a fuel assembly top fitting having a square cross section, a fuel assembly base having a square cross section, an elongated fuel channel with a square cross section and channel walls, fuel rods containing nuclear fuel and an elongated prismatic water channel box both being disposed in said fuel channel in a spacing configuration defined by a lattice having mesh openings with sides parallel to said channel walls, said fuel rods being mutually spaced apart in said mesh openings, said water channel box having a cross section spanning more than one of said mesh openings, and said water channel box being spaced apart from said fuel channel by an interspace being completely filled with said mesh openings and said fuel rods disposed therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising a fuel assembly top fitting having a square cross section, a fuel assembly base having a square cross section, an elongated fuel channel with a square cross section and channel walls, fuel rods containing nuclear fuel and an elongated prismatic water channel box both being disposed in said fuel channel in a spacing configuration defined by a lattice having mesh openings with sides parallel to said channel walls, said fuel rods being mutually spaced apart in said mesh openings, said water channel box having a cross section spanning more than one of said mesh openings, and said water channel box being spaced apart from said fuel channel by an interspace being completely filled with said mesh openings and said fuel rods disposed therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said water pipe is centrally disposed in said lattice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cross section of said water channel box is square.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cross-section of said fuel channel has cross-section sides, said cross-section of said water channel box is square and has cross-sectional sides, said cross-sectional sides of said water channel box are each parallel to a respective cross-sectional side of said fuel channel, and said cross-sectional sides of said water channel box are each spaced apart from a respective one of said cross-sectional sides of said fuel channel by the same distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Nuclear reactor assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lattice has n×n mesh openings, where n≧8, said cross section of said central water channel box spanning (n-6)×(n-6) mesh openings leaving remaining mesh openings between said water channel box and said fuel channel being occupied solely by fuel rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising an elongated fuel channel with a square cross section, fuel rods containing nuclear fuel being mutually spaced apart in an array in said fuel channel, each of said fuel rods being surrounded by a space with a substantially equal volume, and a prismatic water channel box having a cross section spanning more than one of said spaces, said water channel box and said fuel channel being mutually spaced apart defining a region therebetween being completely filled with said spaces and said fuel rods disposed therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
Nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising an elongated fuel channel with a square cross section, fuel rods containing nuclear fuel being mutually spaced apart in an array in said fuel channel, each of said fuel rods being surrounded by a space with a substantially equal volume, and a prismatic water channel box having a cross section spanning more than one of said spaces, said water channel box and said fuel channel being mutually spaced apart defining a region therebetween being completely filled with said spaces and said fuel rods disposed therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1276233A
Cited
DE2261863A1
Cited
FR2166089A1
Cited
JPS5250498A
Cited
EP0086427A1
Cited
US4686079A
Cited
US4675154A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-01 | 1992-05-02 | 1992-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-01 | 1996-05-02 | 1996-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-01 | 2000-05-02 | 2000-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |