Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An upper tie plate for use in debris mitigation, the upper tie plate comprising:a plurality of bosses, each boss shaped to receive an end of a nuclear fuel rod; anda plurality of debris capture elements above the plurality of bosses and configured to overlap such that a flow area is formed therebetween. 2. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are formed on or connected to at least some of the plurality of bosses or on a handle of the upper tie plate. 3. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are shaped as one of troughs and cones. 4. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are configured at an angle with respect to a vertical direction to allow debris to collect at one end. 5. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein sides of the debris capture elements have at least one of a triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and irregular shape. 6. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of debris capture elements are offset from one another by the flow area. 7. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are formed integral with the upper tie plate. 8. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are coupled together in a separate assembly mounted on top of the upper tie plate. 9. The upper tie plate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are staggered with respect to a vertical direction. 10. The upper tie plate of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of debris capture elements are positioned at a height H1 in the vertical direction, and at least one other of the plurality of debris capture elements are positioned at a height H2 in the vertical direction, andwherein H2>H1. 11. A nuclear fuel bundle comprising:a lower tie plate;an upper tie plate including a plurality of bosses, each boss shaped to receive an end of a nuclear fuel rod, and a plurality of debris capture elements above the plurality of bosses and configured to overlap such that a flow area is formed therebetween; anda plurality of fuel rods between the lower tie plate and the upper tie plate. 12. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are shaped as one of troughs and cones. 13. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are positioned at an angle with respect to a vertical direction to allow debris to collect at one end. 14. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein sides of the debris capture elements have one of a triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and irregular shape. 15. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein at least two of the plurality of debris capture elements are offset from one another by the flow area. 16. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are formed integral with the upper tie plate. 17. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are coupled together in a separate assembly mounted on top of the upper tie plate. 18. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are staggered with respect to a vertical direction. 19. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of debris capture elements are positioned at a height H1 in the vertical direction, and at least one other of the plurality of debris capture elements are positioned at a height H2 in the vertical direction, andwherein H2>H1. 20. The nuclear fuel bundle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of debris capture elements are formed on or connected to at least some of the plurality of bosses or on a handle of the upper tie plate.