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In a nuclear fuel assembly having a plurality of separate fuel bundles secured therein in separate compartments, coolant flow paths are provided to enable the flow of coolant between the separate compartments, thereby equalizing the hydraulic pressure between the separate compartments and minimizing

In a nuclear fuel assembly having a plurality of separate fuel bundles secured therein in separate compartments, coolant flow paths are provided to enable the flow of coolant between the separate compartments, thereby equalizing the hydraulic pressure between the separate compartments and minimizing the possibility of thermal-hydrodynamic instability between the separate fuel bundles in the nuclear fuel assembly. A plurality of coolant flow paths are formed through solid structural ribs secured to an outer flow channel of the nuclear fuel assembly to permit coolant flow between the separate compartments.

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A nuclear fuel assembly comprising: an elongated outer coolant flow channel defined by a wall extending along generally the entire length of said fuel assembly, a plurality of four elongated structural ribs fixedly secured pressure-tight to the surfaces of said wall internally of the flow channel an

A nuclear fuel assembly comprising: an elongated outer coolant flow channel defined by a wall extending along generally the entire length of said fuel assembly, a plurality of four elongated structural ribs fixedly secured pressure-tight to the surfaces of said wall internally of the flow channel and disposed along generally the entire length of said flow channel, said structural ribs being disposed 90°apart about the internal periphery of said flow channel, an elongated central water cross providing a moderator coolant flow path for subcooled coolant moderator, said central water cross being formed by a plurality of spaced structural members secured pressure tight to said four structural ribs, said structural ribs and said spaced structural members and said flow channel defining four, elongated, separated internal compartments of said nuclear fuel assembly, a plurality of nuclear fuel rods disposed in each of said four compartments in heat exchange relationship with the coolant to flow through said compartments, and a multiplicity of transverse fuel-rod-coolant flow paths between adjacent compartments of said four compartments, said coolant flow paths disposed along the lengths of said structural ribs exteriorly of, and isolated from, said moderator flow path, and said coolant flow paths comprising a plurality of apertures formed through each said structural rib, each aperture directly interconnecting the compartments adjacent to said each rib.