Patent Number: 050892207
Section: claims

1. A fuel assembly in the form of an elongated multi-corner channel having a wall, said channel being connected to a coolant intended to traverse the channel in a downstream direction, a bundle of similarly elongated fuel rods arranged in the channel and retained by a plurality of spacers placed along the bundle, each one of said spacers comprising a number of cells surrounded by an outer frame in the form of a band placed on edge, said band arranged to fit closely in the channel, said band being provided with a number of windows, wherein in at least certain of said windows a deflection fin is arranged fixed to an upstream edge of each respective window, each said fin extending in the direction of flow from said edge and including a portion which extends in a direction towards a centre of the channel in order to divert coolant flowing along an inner wall-of the channel in a direction towards the centre of the channel. 2. A fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein an upstream outer portion of the band up to a middle portion on the band around the band extends towards the center of the spacer in relation to said middle portion to form a pocket between said outer portion and the inner wall of the channel, and wherein openings are provided in the band on the upstream side of each respective window to provide fluid communication between the pocket and an interior of the spacer. 3. A fuel assembly according to claim 1, wherein a downstream end of each fin is joined by means of a supporting band to a downstream edge of each corresponding window. 4. A fuel assembly which comprises a wall that defines an elongated, multi-cornered channel through which coolant can flow from an upstream end to a downstream end, a bundle of elongated fuel rods positioned in said channel, and a plurality of spacer means positioned at separated locations along said bundle of fuel rods, each of said spacer means comprising an elongated outer band located adjacent said wall, means defining a plurality of cells within the outer band and a center line, said elongated outer band including a plurality of window through which coolant passing in said channel adjacent said wall can flow, said window having upstream edges, and fins connected to said upstream edges of at least some of said window, said fins including portions which extend inwardly of said wall and in said downstream direction so as to deflect coolant flowing in said downstream direction inwardly of said wall and towards said center line.