Importance

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Abstract

A fuel assembly grid (10) in which the height dimension of the grid strips (A,B,C,D) varies along the strip length, so that channels or cells (24',28) immediately surrounding the guide tube (30) define a relatively longer flow path, than channels that are relatively remote from the guide tube. In particular, the grids have a first plurality of four-walled first cells (24) for receiving and supporting respective fuel rods (26) and a second plurality of four-walled second cells (28) that are larger in cross-sectional area than, and interspersed among, the first cells, for receiving respective guide tubes (30). The improvement according to the present invention, provides that the height dimension (H2) of each strip (C) that defines walls of particular first and second cells is greater at the walls of the particular second cells, than at the walls of at least some of the particular first cells.

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First Claim