Abstract
It is possible to achieve self-support of the fuel assembly without an upper grid plate when the fuel assembly is mounted or replaced, and it is also possible to prevent the fuel assembly from floating during a reactor operation. According to the present invention, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 as a part of the fuel assembly 3, which is inserted into the fuel support 9, extends, and a stable member 21 is provided around the extension portion 20, and thereby it is possible to achieve the self-support of the fuel assembly without the upper grid plate. In addition, since an increase in a weight due to extension of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 can prevent the floating during the reactor operation, a floating preventing mechanism using the upper grid plate is not necessary. Hence, it is possible to achieve the self-support of the fuel assembly without an upper grid plate when the fuel assembly is mounted or replaced, and it is also possible to prevent the fuel assembly from floating during the reactor operation.
Claims
1. A fuel assembly configured to have a fuel rod, an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate, and a spacer, the fuel assembly comprising: a fuel support into which a lower portion of the lower tie plate as a part of the fuel assembly is inserted and which supports a lower portion of the fuel assembly; a core plate to which the fuel support is fixed; a Y-shape type control rod that is disposed in a space between some fuel assemblies when a plurality of fuel assemblies are arranged in a reactor pressure vessel; and an installation of neutron instrumentation tube that is disposed at a wing of a distal end of the Y-shape type control rod, wherein the lower portion of the lower tie plate that is inserted into a socket above the fuel support extends, and a stable member is provided around the extension portion.
2. The fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stable member is provided over the entire circumference of an outer circumferential portion of the portion extending from the lower portion of the lower tie plate.
3. The fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein a lower end surface of the stable member provided in the portion obtained by the extension of the lower portion of the lower tie plate is widest at a position close to the lower end surface of the extension portion of the lower portion of the lower tie plate.
4. The fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end surface of the stable member is in contact with an upper surface of the core plate.
5. The fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stable member provided in the portion obtained by the extension of the lower portion of the lower tie plate does not interfere with a layout location of the installation of neutron instrumentation tube on a horizontal plane in the reactor pressure vessel.
6. A fuel assembly configured to have a fuel rod, an upper tie plate, a lower tie plate, and a spacer, the fuel assembly comprising: a fuel support into which a lower portion of the lower tie plate as a part of the fuel assembly is inserted and which supports a lower portion of the fuel assembly; a core plate to which the fuel support is fixed; a Y-shape type control rod that is disposed in a space between some fuel assemblies when a plurality of fuel assemblies are arranged in a reactor pressure vessel; and an installation of neutron instrumentation tube that is disposed at a wing of a distal end of the Y-shape type control rod, wherein the lower portion of the lower tie plate that is inserted into a socket above the fuel support extends, and an upper portion of the fuel support, into which the lower portion of the lower tie plate is inserted, extends.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a side view (1) illustrating a fuel assembly of the example.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view (A-A) in the side view (1) of the fuel assembly of the example.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a side view (2) illustrating the fuel assembly of the example.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a bird's-eye view of a side view (1) illustrating the fuel assembly of the example.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view (B-B) in the side view (1) of the fuel assembly of the example.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a lower tie plate of the fuel assembly of the example.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a fuel support that is disposed below the fuel assembly of the example.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a detailed view illustrating an extension portion of the lower portion of the lower tie plate and a socket above the fuel support of the fuel assembly of the example.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a bird's-eye view of a side view (1) of a fuel assembly of another example of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a lower tie plate of the fuel assembly of the example of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a bird's-eye view of a side view (3) of a fuel assembly of still another example of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a lower tie plate of the fuel assembly of the example of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a bird's-eye view of a side view (1) of a fuel assembly of still another example of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a lower tie plate of the fuel assembly of the example of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a fuel support that is disposed below the fuel assembly of the example of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 16 is a bird's-eye view of a side view (1) of a fuel assembly of still another example of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a fuel support that is disposed below the fuel assembly of the example of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a boiling water reactor in the related art.
[0043] FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating a fuel assembly of the boiling water reactor in the related art.
[0044] FIG. 20 is a horizontal view illustrating the fuel assembly of the boiling water reactor in the related art.
[0045] FIG. 21 is a horizontal view illustrating a fuel assembly of a boiling water reactor in the related art that includes densely arranged fuel assemblies.
[0046] FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating the fuel assembly of the boiling water reactor in the related art that includes densely arranged fuel assemblies.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0047] Hereinafter, examples will be described.
EXAMPLE 1
[0048] FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate the example of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 21, a boiling water reactor, to which the example is applied, is configured to include fuel assemblies 3 that are accommodated in a hexagonal channel box 8 in which fuel rods 4 are arranged to form a triangular lattice shape, a Y-shape type control rod 16 having three wings with interval angles of the wings at 120 degrees, which are inserted between the fuel assemblies, and an installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 that is disposed at a distal end of the wing of the Y-shape type control rod 16.
[0049] The fuel assembly 3 is configured to include the fuel rods 4 (refer to FIG. 2), an upper tie plate 6 (not illustrated), a spacer 5 (not illustrated), a lower tie plate 7, and a channel box 8 (refer to FIG. 2), and component members as characteristics of the example include an extension portion 20 that extends from the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a stable member 21 that is provided around the extension portion 20 so as to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3. Note that a channel is formed in the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 such that a coolant discharged from the socket 10 of the fuel support 9 is sent to the fuel assembly 3.
[0050] FIGS. 1 to 5 are side views, horizontal sectional views, and a bird's eye view illustrating a state in which the fuel assembly 3 including the lower tie plate 7, the fuel support 9, the core plate 13, the Y-shape type control rod 16, and the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 are assembled. FIG. 6 illustrates the lower tie plate 7, and FIG. 7 illustrates the fuel support 9. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 extends, and the stable members 21 are attached by welding or the like at several positions around the extension portion 20. Note that the extension portion 20 or the stable members 21 of the lower tie plate 7 are manufactured to have an integral structure. The upper portion of the lower tie plate 7 is connected and is fixed to the fuel rod 4 or the channel box 8, and the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 is inserted into the socket 10 of the upper portion of the fuel support 9 illustrated in FIG. 7 so as to fitted and fixed thereto. Note that an opening 12 is provided at the center of the fuel support 9 such that a Y-shape type control rod 16 can vertically move.
[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, in such a structure, a lower end surface of the stable member 21, which is attached to the extension portion of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7, is in contact with an upper surface of the core plate 13 or the fuel support 9. In the example, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 extends, and thereby the center of gravity at which the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 has the weight, is lowered. Therefore it is possible to improve the stability. In addition, the stable members 21 are attached in four directions around the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7, the lower end surface of the stable member 21 comes into contact with the upper surface of the core plate 13 or the fuel support 9. In this manner, it is possible to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3. Note that, in the example, the stable members 21 are attached in four directions around the extension portion of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7; however, there is no problem even when the stable members are attached in three directions or in five or more directions.
[0052] As illustrated in a horizontal cross section of FIG. 2, in a range of a disposition height of the channel box 8 as a part of the fuel assembly 3, the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 is disposed at a distal end of the wing of the Y-shape type control rod 16. The installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 needs to find a reactor output or that the neutron flux does not rapidly increase during pulling out of the control rod, and the installation of neutron instrumentation tube locally measures and monitors the neutron flux by a detector in the installation of neutron instrumentation tube on the periphery of the disposition positions in the nuclear reactor core. A structure is employed in which the upper distal end of the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 is supported and fixed to the channel box 8 in the vicinity of the upper end of the fuel assembly 3 and the lower portion of the tube is pulled from the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel 1 out of the reactor pressure vessel 1. When the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 disposed at the distal end of the wings of the Y-shape type control rod 16 is disposed to be straightly downward and to pass around, the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 interferes with a control rod guiding tube (not illustrated), or a control rod driving mechanism housing (not illustrated), or the like interfere with each other. Therefore, a position is shifted on a horizontal plane to an inclined lower right position from the distal end position of the wing of the Y-shape type control rod 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and thereby the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 does not interfere with a structure in the reactor pressure vessel 1. Note that, in the example, the stable members 21, which are provided on the periphery of the extension portion 20 of the lower portions of the lower tie plate 7, are disposed at positions at which the stable members do not interfere with the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15, and thereby it is possible to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3. In addition, a detector for measuring the neutron flux in the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 is mounted, and the detector needs to move in the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15. An outer diameter of the distal end of the detector is several millimeters, a length without a bent portion is from several millimeters to hundreds of millimeters, and then there is a sensor cable for the detector. Since the portion without a bent portion is present, it is preferable that the curvature of the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 increases. In the example, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 extends, and a length from the core plate 13 to the above of the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 increases, and the curvature of the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15 increases. Therefore, it is possible for the detector to vertically move in the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15.
[0053] Further, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 extends, and thereby the extension portion 20 of the lower tie plate 7 has the weight. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fuel assembly 3 from floating. Note that, the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 has a columnar shape in the example; however, the extension portion may have a rectangular shape or a hexagonal shape as long as the extension portion does not interfere with the Y-shape type control rod 16 or the installation of neutron instrumentation tube 15.
[0054] In addition, FIG. 8 illustrates an example of fitting of the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 into the socket 10 above the fuel support 9. Protrusions 25A and 26A are provided on the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7, are inserted into fitting portions 25B and 26B provided in an inner surface of the socket 10 of the upper portion of the fuel support 9 so as to be fixed, and thereby the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 does not move out from the socket 10 of the upper portion of the fuel support 9 even when an earthquake occurs.
EXAMPLE 2
[0055] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate Example 2. A component member as the characteristics of the example includes the stable member 21 such that a load is evenly applied over the entire circumference of the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 as illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the stable member 21 increases in size of the lower portion of the extension portion 20, in a concentric circle with the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7. The load is evenly applied over the entire circumference of the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7, and thereby it is possible to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3.
[0057] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 and the stable member 21 are manufactured to have a columnar shape, and thus it is possible to easily realize the self-support of the fuel assembly 3. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the stable member 21 has the same outer diameter regardless of the height; however, the outer diameter of the stable member 21 increases as a position of the stable member 21 is close to the lower side of the stable member 21. In this manner, the center of gravity of the lower tie plate 7 is lowered, and the stability more improved.
EXAMPLE 3
[0058] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate Example 3. According to component members as the characteristics of the example, the lower end surface of the stable member 21 is in contact with the upper surface of the core plate 13 such that the load is evenly applied over the entire circumference of the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 as illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the stable member 21 increases in size of the lower portion of the extension portion 20, in a concentric circle with the extension portion 20 of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7. Further, a part of the outer circumferential portion of the stable member 21 extends until the part of the outer circumferential portion comes into contact with the upper surface of the core plate 13. It is possible to improve the stability by increasing an area that is in contact with the core plate 13, and it is possible to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3.
EXAMPLE 4
[0060] FIGS. 13 and 15 illustrate Example 4. According to component members as the characteristics of the example, the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 extends as illustrated in FIG. 14, and the three sockets 10 of the fuel support 9 extend upward as illustrated in FIG. 15.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the portion extending from the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 is inserted and fitted into the socket 10 in the upper portion of the fuel support 9; however, the fitted portion increases. Since the fuel support 9 is fixed to the core plate 13, a fitting portion of the extension portion 20 of the lower tie plate 7 into the fuel support 9 increases. In this manner, it is possible to secure the self-support of the fuel assembly 3. Note that the fuel support 9 is manufactured by casting or forging, and then is cut out. In this manner, it is possible to realize a structure illustrated in FIG. 15.
EXAMPLE 5
[0062] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate Example 5. According to component members as the characteristics of the example, in addition to the extension of the lower portion of the lower tie plate 7 as illustrated in FIG. 14, and the upward extension of the three sockets 10 of the fuel support 9 as illustrated in FIG. 15, connection portions 22 to which the three sockets 10 are connected extend.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 16, in addition to the effects illustrated in FIG. 13, the members that form the three sockets 10 of the upper portion of the fuel support 9 are connected, the self-support of the fuel assembly 3 improves. Further, the opening 12 is provided at the center of the fuel support 9 as illustrated in FIG. 17 such that a Y-shape type control rod 16 can vertically move. A roller (not illustrated) is attached at the distal end of the wing of the Y-shape type control rod 16 such that smooth movement is performed through a narrow space. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the members, which form the three sockets 10 into which the lower portions of the fuel assemblies 3 are inserted, and the connection portion 22 upwardly extends, and thereby a movement space of the Y-shape type control rod 16 is secured. Even in a case where a minute positional shift occurs when the Y-shape type control rod 16 vertically moves, the roller comes into contact with the opening 12 of the fuel support 9, and thereby it is possible to cause the Y-shape type control rod 16 to smoothly move.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0064] 1: reactor pressure vessel
[0065] 2: nuclear reactor core
[0066] 3: fuel assembly
[0067] 4: fuel rod
[0068] 5: spacer
[0069] 6: upper tie plate
[0070] 7: lower tie plate
[0071] 8: channel box
[0072] 9: fuel support
[0073] 10: socket
[0074] 11: cross-shape type control rod
[0075] 12: opening
[0076] 13: core plate
[0077] 14: upper grid plate
[0078] 15: installation of neutron instrumentation tube
[0079] 16: Y-shape type control rod
[0080] 17: upper support mechanism
[0081] 20: extension portion
[0082] 21: stable member
[0083] 25A, 26A: protrusion
[0084] 25B, 26B: fitting portion
