A FUEL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor having an upstream minor portion defining an upstream end, a main portion, and a downstream minor portion defining a downstream end. Fuel rods extend in a flow interspace permitting a flow of coolant through the fuel assembly in contact with the fuel rods. Two elongated tubes form a respective internal passage extending in parallel with the fuel rods and enclosing a stream of the coolant. Each elongated tube having a bottom, an inlet at the upstream minor portion and an outlet at the downstream minor portion. Each elongated tube having an inlet pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end in the internal passage at a distance from the bottom, thereby forming a space in the internal passage between the outlet end and the bottom.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A fuel assembly configured to be positioned in a nuclear water reactor, comprising: an upstream minor portion defining an upstream end, a downstream minor portion defining a downstream end, a main portion connecting the upstream minor portion and the downstream minor portion, a plurality of elongated fuel rods arranged in parallel with a longitudinal axis extending through the upstream end and the downstream end, a flow interspace between the upstream end and the downstream end, the flow interspace being configured to permit a flow of coolant through the fuel assembly along a flow direction from the upstream end to the downstream end in contact with the fuel rods, and at least one elongated tube forming an internal passage extending through the main portion in parallel with the fuel rods and permitting a stream of the coolant through the internal passage, wherein the elongated tube comprises a bottom, an inlet to the internal passage at the upstream minor portion and an outlet from the internal passage at the downstream minor portion, wherein: the elongated tube comprises an inlet pipe forming the inlet, the inlet pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end is located inside the internal passage at a distance from the bottom, thereby forming a space in the internal passage between the outlet end and the bottom.

17. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elongated tube has an inner diameter and wherein the inlet pipe at the outlet end has an outer diameter being smaller than the inner diameter of the elongated tube.

18. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the inlet end forms an opening which extends along a plane being non-parallel to the longitudinal axis.

19. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the inlet pipe extends through the bottom.

20. A fuel assembly according to claim 19, wherein the space is an annular space around the inlet pipe.

21. A fuel assembly according to claim 19, wherein the elongated tube comprises a bottom end plug forming said bottom and wherein the inlet pipe extends through the bottom end plug.

22. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the outlet end is located at a distance of at least 0.2 m downstream the bottom.

23. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elongated tube is cylindrical.

24. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the elongated tube comprises at least one magnet provided to attract magnetic material towards the bottom.

25. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fuel assembly comprises a debris filter at the upstream minor portion upstream the fuel rods.

26. A fuel assembly according to claim 25, wherein the inlet end is located upstream the debris filter.

27. A fuel assembly according to claim 25, wherein the inlet end is located downstream the debris filter.

28. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fuel assembly is configured to be positioned in a boiling water reactor, and wherein the elongated tube comprises a water rod for conveying non-boiling water through the internal passage.

29. A fuel assembly according to claim 28, wherein the fuel assembly comprises at least two elongated tubes each comprising a water rod for conveying non-boiling water through the respective internal passage.

30. A fuel assembly according to claim 16, wherein the fuel assembly is configured to be positioned in a pressure water reactor, and wherein the elongated tube comprises a guide tube for receiving a control rod.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention is now to be explained more closely through a description of various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

[0032] FIG. 1 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a fuel assembly according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a part of an elongated tube of the fuel assembly in FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a part of an elongated tube of a fuel assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 4 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a part of an elongated tube of a fuel assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a part of an elongated tube of a fuel assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 6 discloses schematically a longitudinal section through a fuel assembly according to a sixth embodiment and a seventh embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 discloses a first embodiment of a fuel assembly 1 configured to be positioned in a nuclear water reactor, and more precisely a boiling water reactor, BWR. The fuel assembly 1 has an elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis x between an upstream end 1a and a downstream end 1b of the fuel assembly 1. During normal use of the fuel assembly 1 in the reactor, the upstream end 1a forms a lower end, whereas the downstream end 1b forms an upper end of the fuel assembly 1.

[0039] A plurality of elongated fuel rods 2 are arranged in parallel with the longitudinal axis x. Each fuel rod 2 comprises a cladding tube and nuclear fuel (not disclosed), for instance in the form of fuel pellets, contained in the cladding tube.

[0040] The fuel rods 2 may comprise full length fuel rods and part length fuel rods. The part length fuel rods may for instance have a length being ? and/or ? of the length of the full length fuel rods. Only full length fuel rods are shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] The fuel assembly 1 comprises an upstream minor portion 3 defining the upstream end 1a, and a downstream minor portion 4 defining the downstream end 1b. A main portion 5 is provided between and connects the upstream minor portion 3 and the downstream minor portion 4. The borders between the main portion 5 and the upstream minor portion 3, and between the main portion 5 and the downstream minor portion 4 are indicated by dashed transversal lines in FIG. 1.

[0042] The main portion 5 has an axial length being longer than the axial length of each of the upstream minor portion 3 and the downstream minor portion 4.

[0043] The axial length of the main portion 5 may also be longer than the sum of the axial lengths of the upstream minor portion 3 and the downstream minor portion 4.

[0044] The fuel assembly 1 defines a flow interspace 6 between the upstream end 1a and the downstream end 1b. The flow interspace 6 is configured to permit a flow of coolant through the fuel assembly 1 along a flow direction F from the upstream end 1a to the downstream end 1b in contact with the fuel rods 2.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the fuel assembly 1 also comprises two elongated tubes 7 forming a respective internal passage 8, see FIG. 2, extending through the main portion 5 in parallel with the fuel rods 2. The elongated tubes 7 permit a stream of the coolant through the respective internal passage 8. In the first embodiment, the elongated tubes 7 form so called water rods enclosing the stream of coolant, especially of non-boiling water. It should be noted that the number of elongated tubes 7 may be another than two, for instance one, three, four, five, six or more.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the elongated tubes 7 are cylindrical. In particular, the elongated tubes 7 may have a circular cross-section.

[0047] The fuel rods 2 are held by means of spacers 9 in a manner known per se. In the first embodiment, the spacers 9 are attached to the elongated tubes 7.

[0048] The fuel assembly 1 of the first embodiment also comprises a casing 10 enclosing the fuel rods 2, the spacers 9 and the flow interspace 6.

[0049] The elongated tubes 7 are attached to a bottom plate 11 provided beneath the fuel rods 2.

[0050] Furthermore, the elongated tubes 7 may also be attached to a top plate 12 at the downstream end 1a. The top plate 12 comprises a handle 13. The bottom plate 11, the elongated tubes 7, the top plate 12 and the spacers 9 form a support structure. The support structure may be lifted via the handle 13 and carries the weight of the fuel rods 2.

[0051] In the first embodiment, each elongated tube 7 comprises a tube part 7a attached to the bottom plate 11, and a solid part 7b forming a massive rod attached to the top plate 12 as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0052] The fuel assembly 1 comprises a bottom piece 14, frequently designated as a transition piece. The bottom piece 14 extends to the upstream end 1a and defines an inlet opening 15 for the flow of coolant. The bottom piece 14 may be attached to the bottom plate 11 or to the casing 10.

[0053] The fuel assembly 1 comprises a debris filter 16 at or in the upstream minor portion 3 upstream the fuel rods 2. The debris filter 16 is provided between the upstream end 1a and the fuel rods 2. In the first embodiment, the debris filter 16 is provided between the upstream end 1a and the bottom plate 8. The debris filter 16 may be supported by or attached to the bottom piece 11.

[0054] In the first embodiment, each of the elongated tube 7 comprises a bottom 20, an inlet 21 to the internal passage 8 at the upstream minor portion 3 and an outlet 22 from the internal passage 8 at the downstream minor portion 4. The outlet 22 is located at the downstream end of the tube part 7a of the elongated tube 7.

[0055] The elongated tube 7 also comprises an inlet pipe 23, which forms the inlet 21 to the internal passage 8, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Advantageously, the flow area of the inlet 21 is smaller than the flow area of the outlet 22.

[0056] The inlet pipe 23 has an inlet end 24 and an outlet end 25. The outlet end 25 is located inside the internal passage 8 at a distance from the bottom 20. In such a way, a space 26 is formed in the internal passage 8 between the outlet end 25 and the bottom 20.

[0057] The elongated tube 7 has an inner diameter D. The inlet pipe 23 at the outlet end 25 has an outer diameter d, which is smaller than the inner diameter D of the elongated tube 7.

[0058] The inlet end 24 of the inlet pip 23 forms an opening which extends along a plane p which is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis x. In the first embodiment, the plane p is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the inlet pipe 23 extends through the bottom 20 of the elongated tube 7, and especially concentrically through the bottom 20.

[0060] In the first embodiment, the space 26 mentioned above is an annular space around the inlet pipe 23 of the elongated tube 7.

[0061] The elongated tube 7 comprises a bottom end plug 27, which forms the bottom 20. The inlet pipe 23 thus extends through the bottom end plug 27. The inlet pipe 23 and the bottom end plug 27 mays form a common element, which is attached to the end of the elongated tube 7, for instance by being inserted and welded.

[0062] The outlet end 25 of the inlet pipe 23 is located at a distance from the bottom 20. In particular, the outlet end 25 is located 0.2 m, or at least 0.2 m, downstream the bottom 20.

[0063] More specifically, the distance downstream the bottom 20 may be at least 0.3 m, at least 0.4 m or at least 0.5 m.

[0064] The distance downstream the bottom 20 may be at the most 1 m.

[0065] Furthermore, the elongated tube 7 may optionally comprise at least one magnet 28 provided to attract magnetic material, i.e. magnetic debris particles, towards the bottom 20. In the first embodiment, two magnets 28 are indicated, but one, three, four, five or oven more magnets may be provided close to the bottom 20. The magnets are located in the space 26. The magnets 28 may be permanent magnets.

[0066] The magnet or magnets 28 may have any suitable shape, for instance one annular magnet provided around the inlet pipe 28 would be possible.

[0067] In the first embodiment, the inlet end 24 of the inlet pipe 23 is located upstream the debris filter 16. This is illustrated for the inlet pipe 23 to the right in FIG. 1.

[0068] In a second embodiment, the inlet end 24 of the inlet pipe 23 is located downstream the debris filter 16. This is illustrated for the inlet pipe 23 to the left in FIG. 1. In the second embodiment, the inlet end may be located at an upstream side of the bottom plate 11.

[0069] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the inlet pipe 23 extends eccentrically in the internal space 8 of the elongated tube 7. Furthermore, the inlet end 24 of the inlet pipe 23 is located at the upstream surface of the bottom plug 27. The inlet end 24 is thus located downstream the debris filter 16, and possibly also downstream the bottom plate 11 depending on how the elongated tube 7 is attached to the bottom plate 11.

[0070] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the inlet pipe 23 is curved or angled. The inlet pipe 23 extends through the side of the elongated tube 7 into the internal passage 8, as can be seen in FIG. 4. The space 26 is thus not annular.

[0071] FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the inlet pipe 23 is curved or angled. However, the inlet pipe 23 extends eccentrically through the bottom 20, and through the bottom plug 27. Furthermore, the outlet end 25 of the inlet pipe 23 extends vertically, or substantially vertically.

[0072] It is to be noted, the configuration of the inlet pipe 23 may be further modified. Especially, all the various features of the inlet pipe 23 and its attachment to the elongated tube 7 shown in the first to fifth embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0073] FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the fuel assembly 1 is configured to be positioned in a pressure water reactor.

[0074] It should be noted, that the same reference signs have been used for similar or corresponding elements in all the embodiments disclosed.

[0075] Also the fuel assembly 1 according to the sixth embodiment has an elongated shape and extends along a longitudinal axis x between an upstream end 1a and a downstream end 1b of the fuel assembly 1. During normal use of the fuel assembly 1 in the reactor, the upstream end 1a forms a lower end and the downstream end 1b forms an upper end of the fuel assembly 1. A flow interspace 6 is provided between the upstream end 1a and the downstream end 1b.

[0076] A plurality of fuel rods 2 is provided in the flow interspace 6 between the upstream end 1a and the downstream end 1b. The fuel rods 2 are held by means of spacers 9. In the sixth embodiment, the spacers 9 are attached to a number of elongated tubes 37, two of which are shown in FIG. 6. The elongated tubes 37 form a respective internal passage 8 extending through a main portion 5 in parallel with the fuel rods 2 and permitting a stream of the coolant through the internal passage 8. Each elongated tube 37 forms a so called guide tube configured to receive a control rod when the operation of the PWR is to be interrupted. The control rods are introduced into the elongated tubes 37 from the downstream end 1b, i.e. from above.

[0077] In contrast to a fuel assembly 1 for a BWR, the fuel assembly 1 according to the sixth embodiment has no casing, but still comprises the flow interspace 6 as explained above.

[0078] The elongated tubes 37 are attached to a bottom plate 11 provided beneath the fuel rods 2, and to a top plate 12 at the downstream end 1a. The bottom plate 11, the elongated tubes 7, the top plate 12 and the spacers 9 form a support structure which carries the weight of the fuel rods 2.

[0079] The fuel assembly 1 also comprises a bottom piece 14. The bottom piece 14 extends to the upstream end 1a and defines the inlet 15 for the flow of coolant. The bottom piece 14 may be attached to the bottom plate 12.

[0080] The fuel assembly 1 of the sixth embodiment also comprises a debris filter 16 at the upstream minor portion 3 upstream the fuel rods 2.

[0081] As explained above in connection with the previous embodiments, each of the elongated tubes 37 according to the sixth embodiment comprises a bottom 20, an inlet 21 to the internal passage 8 at the upstream minor portion 3 and an outlet 22 from the internal passage 8 at the downstream minor portion 4.

[0082] The elongated tube 37 also comprises an inlet pipe 23, which forms the inlet 21 to the internal passage 8, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Advantageously, the flow area of the inlet 21 is smaller than the flow area of the outlet 22.

[0083] The inlet pipe 23 has an inlet end 24 and an outlet end 25. The outlet end 25 is located inside the internal passage 8 at a distance from the bottom 20. In such a way, a space 26 is formed in the internal passage 8 between the outlet end 25 and the bottom 20.

[0084] It should be noted, that the configuration of the inlet pipe 23 and the arrangement of the inlet pipe 23 in the elongated tube 37 in the sixth embodiment may be as in the first to fifth embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 2-5 and discussed above.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims.