Optimized fuel assembly channels and methods of creating the same
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G21C-003/30
G21C-003/324
G21C-003/322
G21C-015/02
출원번호
US-0843037
(2010-07-25)
등록번호
US-9287012
(2016-03-15)
발명자
/ 주소
Ingraham, Jason B.
Kvaall, Jr., Gerald D.
Cantonwine, Paul E.
Thomas, Michael W.
Cline, William C.
출원인 / 주소
GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL—AMERICAS, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
35
초록▼
Fuel assemblies include an outer channel having a physical configuration optimized for a position of the fuel assembly within a core of a nuclear reactor. The position of the fuel assembly with respect to an employed control blade in the nuclear reactor determines if the outer channel may be thicken
Fuel assemblies include an outer channel having a physical configuration optimized for a position of the fuel assembly within a core of a nuclear reactor. The position of the fuel assembly with respect to an employed control blade in the nuclear reactor determines if the outer channel may be thickened, reinforced, and/or fabricated of Zircaloy-4 or similar distortion-resistant material, so as to reduce or prevent distortion of the channel against the control blade, or thinned so as to increase water volume and enhance reactivity in the assembly. Reactor cores having configured fuel assemblies include fuel assemblies having different outer channels. Methods include determining operational characteristics of the fuel assembly, including likelihood of being placed directly adjacent to an employed control blade, and physically selecting or modifying the outer channel of the fuel assembly based thereon.
대표청구항▼
1. A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor, the fuel assembly comprising: at least one fuel rod; andan outer channel surrounding the at least one fuel rod, the outer channel including a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, the first side wall being opp
1. A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor, the fuel assembly comprising: at least one fuel rod; andan outer channel surrounding the at least one fuel rod, the outer channel including a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, the first side wall being opposite the third side wall, the second side wall being opposite the fourth side wall, the first and second side walls being select side walls, the third and fourth side walls being other side walls, an entirety of the select side walls as a whole being thicker than an entirety of the other side walls as a whole. 2. The fuel assembly of claim 1, wherein the select side walls of the outer channel face a control blade in the nuclear reactor. 3. A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor, the fuel assembly comprising: at least one fuel rod; andan outer channel surrounding the at least one fuel rod, the outer channel including a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, the first side wall being opposite the third side wall, the second side wall being opposite the fourth side wall, the first and second side walls being select side walls, the third and fourth side walls being other side walls, an entirety of the select side walls as a whole being fabricated of a zirconium alloy that is more resistant to radiation-induced deformation than Zircaloy-2, an entirety of the other side walls as a whole being fabricated of a zirconium alloy that is equally or less resistant to radiation-induced deformation than Zircaloy-2. 4. The fuel assembly of claim 1, wherein the other side walls are approximately 20 mil or more thinner on average than the select side walls. 5. The fuel assembly of claim 3, wherein the select side walls include only at least one of Zircaloy-4, NSF, and VB. 6. The fuel assembly of claim 1, wherein the select side walls are approximately 20 mils or more thicker on average than the other side walls. 7. The fuel assembly of claim 2, wherein the select side walls are directly adjacent to the control blade.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (35)
Fennern Larry E. (San Jose CA), Bi-level fuel management method for boiling-water nuclear reactor.
Fennern Larry E. (San Jose CA) Challberg Roy C. (Livermore CA) Patel Nilkanth T. (San Jose CA) Fawcett Russell M. (San Jose CA) Ose Richard A. (San Jose CA) Dillmann Charles W. (Morgan Hill CA) Hucik, Boiling water reactor including split control rod drives.
Hwang Sun-Keun (Seoul PA KRX) Sabol George P. (Murrysville PA) Barry Robert F. (Monroeville PA), Composite nuclear fuel cladding tubing and other core internal structures with improved corrosion resistance.
Specker Steven R. (San Jose CA) Sawyer Craig D. (Los Gatos CA) Crowther Russell L. (Saratoga CA) Gitnick Bennett J. (Rockville MD) Walters Kenneth V. (Kennewick WA) Brown Robert E. (San Jose CA) Fenn, Control cell nuclear reactor core.
Mildrum Claude M. (Monroeville Boro PA), Fuel rod with annular nuclear fuel pellets having same U-235 enrichment and different annulus sizes for graduated enrich.
Adamson Ronald B. (Fremont CA) Lutz Daniel R. (San Jose CA) Armijo Joseph S. (Saratoga CA) Rosenbaum Herman S. (Fremont CA), Nuclear fuel cladding having an alloyed zirconium barrier layer.
Dix Gary E. (Saratoga CA) Crowther Russell L. (Saratoga CA) Colby Mark J. (San Jose CA) Matzner Bruce (San Jose CA) Elkins Robert B. (San Jose CA), Two-phase pressure drop reduction BWR assembly design.
Dix Gary E. (Saratoga CA) Crowther Russell L. (Saratoga CA) Colby Mark J. (San Jose CA) Matzner Bruce (San Jose CA) Elkins Robert B. (San Jose CA), Two-phase pressure drop reduction BWR assembly design.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.