Patent ID: 7469030
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A nuclear fuel element comprising a bundle of fuel rods and a framework for holding the bundle, wherein each of the fuel rods are of substantially cylindrical shape, and said framework comprises a plurality of spacer grids for a fuel assembly in a light-water-cooled nuclear reactor, for providing a transverse retention of the bundle of fuel rods in mutually parallel arrangements, at least one of the plurality of spacer grids comprising: an array of cells juxtaposed and placed in a regular lattice, each bounded and separated from neighboring cells by at least one peripheral wall which is open at two opposed ends, along a direction of an axis of the cell, the axis being vertical, so as to receive one of the fuel rods, said one of the fuel rods passing along the cell axis parallel to the peripheral wall, and an arrangement for bearing on and retaining the one of the fuel rods in a central position in which an axis of the one of the fuel rods lies along the axis of the cell, a free space being left between a cylindrical external surface of the one of the fuel rods and the peripheral wall of the cell, in which the arrangement for bearing on and retaining the one of the fuel rods in each of the cells housing a fuel rod comprises