Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A core plate assembly for a nuclear reactor, the reactor comprising a plurality of large control rods, a plurality of cruciform shaped control rod guide tubes, and a plurality of fuel bundles having lower tie plates, said core plate assembly comprising: a flat plate;  a plurality of support beams, said flat plate positioned on top of said support beams;  a plurality of control rod guide tube openings, each said guide tube opening sized to receive a control rod guide tube, said control rod guide tube openings arranged in staggered rows, said guide tube openings having a cruciform shape and comprising four slots extending radially from a central portion at right angles to each other, said slots defining four fuel bundle receiving areas;  a plurality of fuel supports extending through said flat plate, each said fuel support comprising:  a coolant flow inlet, said coolant flow inlet positioned adjacent a support beam;  a coolant flow outlet sized to receive a lower tie plate of a fuel bundle, said coolant flow outlet positioned in a fuel bundle receiving area; and  a coolant flow bore extending between said coolant flow inlet and said coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlet offset from said coolant flow outlet so that a centerline of said coolant flow inlet is parallel to a centerline of said coolant flow outlet. 2. A core plate assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said coolant flow inlet comprises an orifice plate. claim 1 3. A core plate assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises four fuel supports. claim 1 4. A core plate assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises one fuel support. claim 1 5. A core plate assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each fuel support further comprises: claim 1 four coolant flow inlets;  four coolant flow outlets sized to receive a lower tie plate of a fuel bundle; and  four coolant flow bores, each flow bore extending between a corresponding coolant flow inlet and a corresponding coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlets offset from said corresponding coolant flow outlets so that a centerline of said coolant flow inlet is parallel to a centerline of said corresponding coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlets positioned adjacent a support beam, and said coolant flow outlets positioned in a fuel bundle receiving area. 6. A core plate assembly in accordance with  claim 5  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises one fuel support. claim 5 7. A core for a nuclear reactor comprising: a plurality of fuel bundles, each fuel bundle comprising a lower tie plate;  a plurality of cruciform shaped large control rods;  a plurality of cruciform shaped control rod guide tubes; and  a core plate assembly comprising:  a flat plate;  a plurality of support beams, said flat plate positioned on top of said support beams;  a plurality of control rod guide tube openings, each said guide tube opening sized to receive a control rod guide tube, said control rod guide tube openings arranged in staggered rows, said guide tube openings having a cruciform shape and comprising four slots extending radially from a central portion at right angles to each other, said slots defining four fuel bundle receiving areas; and  a plurality of fuel supports extending through said flat plate, each said fuel support comprising:  a coolant flow inlet, said coolant flow inlet positioned adjacent a support beam;  a coolant flow outlet sized to receive a lower tie plate of a fuel bundle, said coolant flow outlet positioned in a fuel bundle receiving area; and  a coolant flow bore extending between said coolant flow inlet and said coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlet offset from said coolant flow outlet so that a centerline of said coolant flow inlet is parallel to a centerline of said coolant flow outlet. 8. A core in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each said coolant flow inlet comprises an orifice plate. claim 7 9. A core in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises four fuel supports. claim 7 10. A core in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises one fuel support. claim 7 11. A core in accordance with  claim 7  wherein each fuel support further comprises: claim 7 four coolant flow inlets;  four coolant flow outlets sized to receive a lower tie plate of a fuel bundle; and  four coolant flow bores, each flow bore extending between a corresponding coolant flow inlet and a corresponding coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlets offset from said corresponding coolant flow outlets so that a centerline of said coolant flow inlet is parallel to a centerline of said corresponding coolant flow outlet, said coolant flow inlets positioned adjacent a support beam, and said coolant flow outlets positioned in a fuel bundle receiving area. 12. A core in accordance with  claim 11  wherein each said fuel bundle receiving area comprises one fuel support. claim 11