Importance

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Abstract

A spacer for a fuel bundle is disclosed in which a grid type construction provides an approximation to a traditional ferrule spacer. First and second sets of diagonally extending strips of Zircaloy are utilized extending along opposite diagonals across a square sectioned spacer. One set of strips is disposed in a first parallel array along a first diagonal, with each strip of the set being spaced from other strips of the set at rod width spaced intervals along the second and remaining diagonal. The other set of strips is disposed in a second parallel array along an second diagonal, with each strip of the set being spaced from the other strips of the set at rod width spaced intervals along the first diagonal. The strips of both arrays are bent in a zigzag configuration as they extend diagonally across each fuel bundle with successive legs defined between bends in the strip including a diagonal leg, a horizontal leg, a diagonal leg (in the same diagonal direction), and a vertical leg with the secession being repeated to form the required diagonal length. The diagonal elements are provided with opposing protruding tabs, these tabs defining interlocking cell boundaries diagonally around each individual fuel rod. The strips are engaged one towards another with the opposed protruding tabs interleaved to connect the diagonally extending strips together into a mutually interlocking grid. There results an eight sided cell around each fuel rod with the tabs of the strips along a first diagonal forming first opposite diagonal cell boundaries, the tabs of strips along the second diagonal forming second opposite diagonal cell boundaries, and the horizontal and vertical legs closing the eight sided cell between the cell diagonals.

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First Claim