METHOD OF MAKING FUEL ASSEMBLY OF NUCLEAR REACTOR Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC G21C3/32 

FIELD: atomic power engineering.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method of making fuel assembly of nuclear reactor includes preliminary making of fuel element cluster, hexagonal spacer grids of zirconium alloy, central tube and guide channels, head and tail parts and hexagonal carrier of lower grid. Skeleton is assembled by fastening central tube and guide channels in hexagonal carrier of lower grid and its tail with fastening in height from tail part of hexagonal spacer grid by corner plates from outer side. Fuel elements are press-fitted in subchannels spacer grid with fastening them in hexagonal carrier of lower grid and fastening of head part on channels of guides and central tube. After making of hexagonal spacer grids they are subjected to checking and rejecting if ferromagnetic metal subchannels are present among subchannels of zirconium alloy by placing each hexagonal spacer grid stationary in magnetic field created by magnet. Magnet is installed on scales with readings brought to zero. Presence of ferromagnetic metal in hexagonal spacer grids is revealed by deflection of scale from zero. Such grid is rejected.

EFFECT: improved quality of fuel assembly.

4 dwg