FUEL ASSEMBLY OF TANK REACTOR Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering. SUBSTANCE: liquid coolant is passed to conical surface of fuel assembly exit bottom end through annular hole. Rod carrying fixed bush, part of whose outer surface is placed flush with conical surface of end, is mounted coaxially with hole. Bush is mounted for displacement over rod provided coolant pressure acting on bush in reactor is higher than its fixing force. In our option, hole and bush are divided into fragments of cylindrical shape; bush fragments are joined together by means of flexible link. Bush may be locked in position by means of spring, for example. EFFECT: improved safety in reactor operation due to retaining coolant in fuel assembly in case of accident, reduced probability of fuel assembly sticking during refuelling. 3 cl, 5 dwg