Coolant flow mixer grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 4692302
SERIAL NO

06567450

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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An improved grid structure is provided for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly whose sole purpose is to promote a crossflow mixing of the coolant through the fuel assembly rather than the support of the fuel rods. The grid straps form an egg-crate configuration creating cell openings for receiving the fuel rods. Associated with each cell opening is at least one coolant flow mixing vane that projects over the cell opening and four dimple protrusions which are open to the flow of coolant therethrough. The dimple protrusions extend into the cell opening to a further extent than the mixing vane so as to prevent damaging impact of the fuel rod with a vane upon transverse movement of the fuel rod across the cell opening. In reducing the pressure drop of the coolant flow through the assembly, the height of the inner grid straps is substantially less than the height of the outer border strap.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION1310 BEULAH ROAD PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA 15235 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Boyle, Raymond F Monroeville, PA 6 133
DeMario, Edmund E Penn Hills, PA 25 399
Kuchirka, Peter J Penn Hills, PA 2 48

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