Importance

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Abstract

A swirl vane is disclosed for addition to a spring metal grid spacer utilized with a conventional nuclear boiling water nuclear reactor. The spring metal spacer includes a matrix of fuel rod containing cells. Each cell has at least one spring leg and at least two fuel rod encircling arms. The spring leg functions to bias a fuel rod contained within the cell at the spacer to one side of the cell. The two rod encircling arms define stops against which the fuel rods are biased. The cells themselves are welded into a unitary matrix and preferably surrounded by a metallic band. The improved swirl vane of this invention includes an 'I' shaped spring steel strip. This strip includes top and bottom tabs for engaging the respective top and bottom grid structure of the spacer. The 'I' shaped strip is then twisted to provide the swirl vane surface, this twisting being preferably slightly less than or greater than the total twisting required. Thereafter, the band is inserted to the grid and the twist used to wedge the band in place until welding has been utilized to secure the vane in place. In an alternate embodiment a row of swirl vanes is formed from a long strip so that the swirl vanes are joined at one end. Rows of swirl vanes are inserted into the spacer as units.

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First Claim