• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    12 ABSTRACT The invention refers to a fuel assembly comprising a lower endstructure, an upper end structure including a top nozzle (5), aplurality of fuel rods and a plurality of guide thimbles (3). Thetop nozzle includes a passageway and an annular groove (10) insaid passageway. A sleeve (11) is provided for attaching theguide thimble (3) to the top nozzle (5). The sleeve has at leastthree slots (12) and includes at least three bulges (13). Eachbulge (13) has two ends and extends between two of the slots(12). At least one of the ends of the bulge (13) extends to aposition at a distance (d) from the respective slot (12). Theinvention also refers to a guide thimble device (9) for use in afuel assembly. (FiQ 3)
    公开号:SE1050519A1
    申请号:SE1050519
    申请日:2010-05-25
    公开日:2011-11-26
    发明作者:Lennart Johansson
    申请人:Westinghouse Electric Sweden；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Title: A fuel assembly, a guide thimble device and use of theguide thimble device.
    FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fuel assemblies for pressurizedwater reactors according to the pre-characterizing portion ofclaim 1. The present invention also relates to a guide thimbledevice according to the pre-characterizing portion of claim 11and to use of the guide thimble device in a fuel assembly.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION US 4,631,168 discloses a fuel assembly for nuclear pressurizedwater reactors comprising a number of elongated fuel elementsor rods and guide thimbles held together by spacers spacedalong the assembly length and attached to the guide thimbles.The top and bottom nozzles extend slightly above and below theends of the fuel rods on opposite ends and are secured to theguide thimbles.
    The top nozzle is removable and includes a passagewayextending through the top nozzle and an annular groove formedin said passageway.
    A guide thimble device includes a guide thimble and anelongated sleeve configured for attaching the guide thimble tothe top nozzle. The sleeve has slots in the upper end portion ofsaid sleeve. Each slot extends downwardly from a top end ofsaid sleeve, wherein the upper end portion of the sleeveincludes shoulders or bulges. The bulges seat in the annulargrooves comprised in the passageway in the top nozzle, whenthe sleeve is in an expanded locked position within said passageway. Each bulge has two ends and extends betweentwo of the slots. Each bulge has a circumferential bulge profile.
    The top nozzle is connected to the fuel assembly in a removablemanner. This is necessary for several reasons, for example, tohave access to the fuel rods when these need to be replaced.The fuel assemblies are transported in and out of the reactor bylifting the fuel assembly by the top nozzle. This means that theattachment structure that connects the top nozzle with the guidethimbles needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of thefuel assembly.
    Apart from the mechanical attachment function, the guidethimbles also serve to house absorbent or control rods used forcontrolling the chain reaction at any time. These control rods areinserted into the guide thimble through the top nozzle, which haspassages for this purpose. The control rods are inserted into theguide thimble with force and as rapidly as possible. Again, it isimportant that the attachment structure is strong enough towithstand these forces.
    US 4,617,171 describes a fuel assembly wherein the bulge onthe sleeve of the guide thimble has different profiles. The bulgedescribed may for example have a rectangular profile (figure 3),with attachment threads (figure 4) or a biconical profile (figure5).
    All bulges described in the prior art extend from slot to slot in acircumferential manner.SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTION Object of the present invention is to improve the attachment ofthe guide thimble device in a top nozzle of a fuel assembly.
    This object is achieved by the guide thimble device initiallydefined and which is characterized in that at least one end ofthe bulge extends to a position at a distance from the respectiveslot.
    One effect of this novel profile of the bulge is that the guidethimble device can withstand a higher axial load before thebulge begins to straighten. This increases the strength of theattachment of the guide thimble to the top nozzle.
    An advantage with the improved design is that by letting thecylindrical part of the sleeve pass by on at least one side of thebulge, the material in this area must exceed the yield point intension, before the bulges can start to straighten. Thereby, thebulge can withstand a higher load. ln the existing design of thebulges, the bulges may start to straighten before the yield pointhas been reached. As explained above, this results in improvedsecurity at the nuclear reactor plant.
    The improved bulges can be used in existing attachmentstructures without having to redesign the other parts in the joint. ln the prior art different profiles of the bulge have beendescribed to improve said attachment. All bulges describedextend from slot to slot in a circumferential manner. No hints aregiven that the strength of the attachment can be improved with abulge consisting of two ends and whereby at least one end ofthe bulge extends to a position at a distance from the respectiveslot.
    The present invention further relates to the guide thimble deviceinitially defined and which is characterized in that at least oneend of the bulge extends to a position at a distance from therespective slot.
    The present invention also relates to use of the guide thimbledevice in a fuel assembly. ln one embodiment of the invention the bulge has an end portionat the respective end, wherein the end portion has a curvedshape in a longitudinal section and in a transversal sectionalong the bulge. Such a curvature will further improve thestrength of the sleeve, and increase the resistance todeformation of the bulge and the sleeve. Thus the attachment ofthe sleeve in the passageway of the top nozzle is furtherenhanced. ln one embodiment of the invention, both ends of the bulgeextend to a position at a distance from the respective slot. lnanother embodiment, one end of the bulge extends to a positionat a distance from the respective slot. ln another embodiment of the invention, the bulges are providedso that there is one bulge between each pair of adjacent slots. ln one embodiment of the invention, the bulges are providedcircumferentially after each other. ln one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve has a wallthickness seen in a radial direction with respect to thelongitudinal direction.
    The distance between the end of the bulge and the slot may beimportant for the axial strength of the material. ln oneembodiment of the invention, the distance is equally long, or atleast equally long, as the wall thickness of the sleeve. lnanother embodiment, the distance is two or three times longerthan the wall thickness of the sleeve, or even longer.
    The wall thickness of the sleeve may also be important for theaxial strength of the material. ln one embodiment of the invention, the wall thickness is in the range of from 0.20 to 0.50mm.
    The sleeve may be divided into several slots. ln oneembodiment of the invention, the sleeve has 3, 4, 5 or 6 slots.
    The profile of the bulges may vary. ln one embodiment of theinvention, the bulge has a cylindrical profile seen in alongitudinal section.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be explained more closely bymeans of a description of various embodiments and withreference to the drawings attached hereto.
    Figure 1 shows a side view of a fuel assembly for a nuclearpressurized water reactor.
    Figure 2 shows a partly sectional view of an attachment of aguide thimble device to a top nozzle of the fuel assembly inFigure 1.
    Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the parts shown in Figure 2.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS El/|BOD|l/IENTS OFTHE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a fuel assembly 1 for a nuclear pressurizedwater reactor. The fuel assembly 1 comprises a number ofelongated fuel rods 2 and guide thimbles, or guide tubes, 3 heldtogether by spacers 4 spaced along the fuel assembly 1 lengthand attached to the guide thimbles 3. Top and bottom nozzles 5and 6 extend slightly above and below the ends of the fuel rods 2 on opposite ends and are secured to the guide thimbles 3. Thetop nozzle 5 includes a transversely extending adapter plate 7having upstanding sidewalls 8. Within the opening defined bythe sidewalls 8 is a conventional rod ciuster control assembly(not shown) introducibie for verticaliy moving the control rods inthe guide thimbles 3.
    Figures 2 and 3 show a part of a guide thimble device 9 presentin the top nozzle 5. The top nozzle 5 includes a plurality ofpassageways extending through the adapter plate 7 of the topnozzle 5. An annular groove 10 is formed in each passageway.The guide thimble device 9 comprises a guide thimble 3 and anelongated sleeve 11 provided at an upper end of the guidethimble 3. The elongated sleeve 11 is cylindrical and has slots12 in the upper end portion* of the sleeve 11. The slots 12extend downwardly from a top end of the sleeve 11. Bulges 13are provided between the slots 12 positioned at distance d fromthe slot 12. The bulges 13 project outwardly from the cylindricalsleeve 11. Thanks to the distance d, there is a cylindricallyshaped area 14 located between the end of the bulge 13 and theslot 12. A locking member 15 is introduced into the sleeve 11from above the top nozzle 5.
    The sleeve 11 included in the guide thimble 3 may be anintegrated part of the guide thimble 3. The sleeve 11 may alsobe a separated part of the guide thimble 3 attached thereto byany means, for instance by plastic deformation as indicated inFigure 2. ln the embodiment disclosed, both ends of the bulge 13 extend,as mentioned above, to a position at a distance d from therespective slot 12. lt may also be possible to let only one end ofthe bulge 13 extend to a position at a distance d from therespective slot 12.
    As can be partly seen in Figure 3, each the bulge 13 has an endportion at the respective end of the bulge 13. The end portionsdefining or including the respective end has a curved shapeseen in a radial direction. Moreover, each of the end portionshas a curved shape in a longitudinal section and in a transversalsection along the bulge.
    The bulges 13 are provided so that there is one bulge 13between each pair of adjacent slots 12. The bulges 13 mayalternatively be provided so that there are two bulges 13between each pair of adjacent slots 12 or even so that there arethree bulges 13 between each pair of adjacent slots 12.
    Furthermore, the bulges 13 are provided circumferentially aftereach other. Alternatively, the neighbouring bulges 13 are notprovided circumferentially but at different distances from the topend of the sleeve 11.
    The sleeve 11 has a wall thickness seen in a radial directionwith respect to the longitudinal direction. The wall thickness is inthe range of from 0.20 to 0.50 mm. The wall thickness may be inthe range of from 0.25 to 0.40 mm, or in the range of from 0.30to 0.35 mm. Alternatively, the wall thickness ranges from 0.20 to0.35 mm, from 0.20 to 0.40 mm, or from 0.30 to 0.40 mm.
    The distance d mentioned above is equally long or is at leastequally long as the wall thickness of the sleeve 11. The distanced may also be two times longer than the wall thickness of thesleeve 11. Alternatively, the distance d is three times longerthan the wall thickness of the sleeve 11. Otherwise, the distanced ranges between one to five times the wall thickness of thesleeve 11 .
    As mentioned above, the sleeve 11 may comprise or be dividedinto several slots 12. ln the embodiment disclosed the sleeve 11 has four slots 12. Alternatively, the sleeve 11 may have threeslots 12 or the sleeve 11 may have five slots 12 or more.
    The bulge 13, at least between the end portions, may have acylindrical profile seen in a longitudinal section. Alternatively,the bulge 13 may have any suitable outwardly projecting profilesuch as a rectangular or a biconical profile.
    The present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdisclosed but may be varied and modified within the soope ofthe following claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (16)
    [1] 1. CLAllVlS 1 _ A fuel assembly (1) for a nuclear pressurized water reactorcomprising a lower end structure (6), an upper end structure including a top nozzle (5), a plurality of elongated fuel rods (2), a plurality of longitudinally extended guide thimbles (3)extending in a longitudinal direction from the lower endstructure (6) to the top nozzle (5), said top nozzle (5)including a passageway extending through the top nozzle(5) and an annular groove (10) formed in said passageway,and an elongated sleeve (11) for attaching the guide thimble(3) to the top nozzle (5), the sleeve (11) having at least three slots (12) in the upperend portion of said sleeve (11), each slot (12) extendingdownwardly from a top end of said sleeve (11), wherein theupper end portion of the sleeve (11) includes at least threebulges (13), which bulges (13) seat in said annular groove(10) when said sleeve (11) is in an expanded lockedposition within said passageway, and wherein each bulge(13) has two ends and extends between two of the slots(12), characterized in that at least one of the ends of thebulge (13) extends to a position at a distance (d) from therespective slot (12). . The fuel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the bulge (13) has an end portion at the respectiveend, wherein the end portion has a curved shape in alongitudinal section and in a transversal section along thebulge (13). The fuel assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterizedin that both ends of the bulge (13) extend to a position at adistance (d) from the respective slot (12). 10. 11 The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3,characterized in that the bulges are provided so that thereis one bulge (13) between each pair of adjacent slots (12). The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4,characterized in that the bulges (13) are providedcircumferentially after each other. The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5,characterized in that the sleeve (11) has a wall thicknessseen in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinaldirection. The fuel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the distance (d) between the end of the bulge (13) andslot (12) is at least equally long as the wall thickness ofthe sleeve (11). The fuel assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the distance (d) between the end of the bulge (13) andthe slot (12) is two or three times longer than the wallthickness of the sleeve (11). The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8,characterized in that the wall thickness of the sleeve (11)is in the range of from 0.20 to 0.50 mm. The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9,characterized in that the sleeve (11) has 3, 4, 5 or 6 slots(12). .The fuel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bulge (13) has a cylindrical profileseen in a longitudinal section. 11 12.A guide thimbie device (9) including a guide thimbie (3) and an elongated sleeve (11) configured for attaching theguide thimbie (3) to a top nozzle (5) of a fuel assembly, thetop nozzle (5) comprising at least one passageway with anannular groove (10), the sleeve (11) having at least threeslots (12) in the upper end portion of said sleeve (11),each slot (12) extending downwardly from a top end of saidsleeve (11), wherein the upper end portion of the sleeve(11) includes at least three bulges (13), which bulges (13)seat in said annuiar groove (10) when said sleeve (11) isin an expanded locked position within said passageway,and wherein each bulge (13) has two ends and extendsbetween two of the slots (12), characterized in that at leastone of the ends of the bulge (13) extends to a position at adistance (d) from the respective slot (12). 13. The guide thimbie device (9) according to claim 12, characterized in that both ends of the bulge (13) extend toa position at a distance (d) from the respective slot (12). 14.The guide thimbie device (9) according to claim 12, characterized in that the sleeve (11) has a wall thicknessseen in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinaldirection, and wherein the distance (d) between the end ofthe bulge (13) and slot (12) is at least equally long as thewall thickness of the sleeve (11). 15.The guide thimbie device (9) according to claim 12, characterized in that the wall thickness of the sleeve (11)is in the range of from 0.20 to 0.50 mm. 16.Use of the guide thimbie device (9) according to any one of claims 12 to 15 in the fuel assembly according to any oneof claims 1 to 11.
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    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US4284475A|1979-01-26|1981-08-18|Combustion Engineering, Inc.|Wear sleeve for control rod guide tube|
    FR2529704B1|1982-07-01|1987-09-04|Commissariat Energie Atomique|DEVICE FOR FASTENING A GUIDE TUBE INTO THE END PIECE OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ASSEMBLY|
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    ES2004864A6|1985-11-12|1989-02-16|Westinghouse Electric Corp|Fixture for rectifying guide-thimble damage in reconstitutable nuclear fuel assemblies.|
    US4688416A|1985-11-12|1987-08-25|Westinghouse Electric Corp.|Fixture and method for rectifying damaged guide thimble insert sleeves in a reconstitutable fuel assembly|
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    FR2636766B1|1988-09-19|1990-12-14|Framatome Sa|DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING A LOCKING SLEEVE FROM A REMOVABLE GUIDE TUBE FROM A FUEL ASSEMBLY OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR|
    FR2636768B1|1988-09-19|1990-12-14|Framatome Sa|REMOVABLE FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR A NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLED BY LIGHT WATER|
    SE466226B|1990-05-22|1992-01-13|Asea Atom Ab|BRAINSLEPATRON FOR A NUCLEAR REACTOR|
    FR2714762B1|1993-12-30|1996-03-15|Framatome Sa|Fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor cooled by light water.|
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    US5367548A|1994-03-15|1994-11-22|B&W Fuel Company|Guide tube retainer|
    FR2750529B1|1996-06-28|1998-09-04|Framatome Sa|GUIDE TUBE FOR NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY|
    KR100906401B1|2007-08-27|2009-07-07|한전원자력연료 주식회사|Easy Release and Coupling Joint Between Guide Tube And Upper-End-Fitting Which Has an Inner-Extension with Locking Device|
    US20090122947A1|2007-08-27|2009-05-14|Korea Nuclear Fuel Co.,Ltd|Joining Structure Between Top Nozzle and Guide Thimbles In Nuclear Fuel Assembly|KR102059466B1|2017-11-09|2019-12-27|한전원자력연료 주식회사|Engaging·releasing system for top nozzle|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1050519A|SE534841C2|2010-05-25|2010-05-25|A fuel cartridge, a hose assembly and use of the hose assembly|SE1050519A| SE534841C2|2010-05-25|2010-05-25|A fuel cartridge, a hose assembly and use of the hose assembly|
    US13/698,009| US9031185B2|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|Fuel assembly, a guide thimble device and use of the guide thimble device|
    UAA201213408A| UA107703C2|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|A fuel assembly, a guide thimble device and use of the guide thimble device|
    EP11723760.2A| EP2577673B1|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|Fuel assembly with guide thimble|
    ES11723760.2T| ES2519599T3|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|Fuel assembly with guide sleeve|
    JP2013512573A| JP5806297B2|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|Fuel assembly|
    PCT/SE2011/050586| WO2011149408A1|2010-05-25|2011-05-10|A fuel assembly, a guide thimble device and use of the guide thimble device|
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