Patent ID: 6980620
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. In a water-cooled nuclear reactor having: a core that includes juxtaposed fuel assemblies of straight prismatic shape with their vertical axes orthogonal to the horizontal core support plate; positioning elements for the fuel assemblies, each element received in a respective opening formed in a lower end piece of the fuel assembly, the positioning element including— a) a pin having a stud portion received within a respective opening and projecting from the core support plate, a threaded portion of the pin being screwed into a threaded vertical opening formed in the core support plate; b) a securing washer received within a counterbore formed around the threaded opening in the core support plate and axially mounted on the pin; a restoration process for replacing a defective positioning element of a fuel assembly, the process performed under water and comprising the steps: