Patent ID: 6519309
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A spacer for nuclear fuel rods of a nuclear fuel assembly comprising:a plurality of sets of two horizontally extending parallel grid strips, a first of the two horizontally extending parallel grid strips being substantially flat and a second of the two horizontally extending parallel grid strips having undulations along its length to form both a vertical flow channel between the first of the two horizontally extending parallel grid strips and the second of the two horizontally extending parallel grid strips and a nozzle connected to the vertical flow channel, the nozzle positioned to produce a swirling motion of coolant and to have non-opposing flow paths in flow channels, the plurality of sets of two horizontally extending parallel grid strips arranged to intersect one another to form a lattice of polygonal shaped cells through which nuclear fuel rods extend and which support the fuel rods positioned asymmetrically within the cells.