Patent Number: 051320770
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to pressurized water nuclear reactors and is for use in the same environment as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/582,589, filed substantially concurrently herewith, by the same inventor, for "Bottom Nozzle to Lower Grid Attachment". More specifically, the device relates to the lower core plate to fuel assembly interface. The invention is a design created more evenly to distribute the flow within and above the lower end fitting to decrease the jet flow impingement on fuel rods. This improves reactor performance by improving the performance diffusing lower core plate flow jets. The desired result sought and achieved is a decrease of flow induced vibration of the fuel rods and stiffening and lightening of the lower end fitting. In the past, flow induced vibration of fuel rods in their lower spans has caused high fuel rod wear rates. This has resulted in the use of a stronger grid support system in the lower section of the fuel assemblies. The current and prior art practice of using inconel lower grids, with their high neutron capture, is to achieve these required supporting forces. The need for the improved lower end fitting thus also results from the desire for vibration elimination which would allow use of a low parasitic material such as Zircaloy 4. Use of an integral wear-reduction-shield of the type taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,149 issued to the inventor of the present invention also provides strength to the new lower end fitting. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The novel bottom nozzle or end fitting device of the invention is constructed of stainless steel and is located immediately above the lower core plate flow holes. The device is circular and has a curved profile. The geometry of the devices, their number and height, is dependent on the reactor core plate geometry and the size of the lower end fitting. The devices are rigidly held in place by members extending from the edges of the device to the lower end fitting support legs and the thimble flux shield. This stiffens the end fitting and permits a reduced thickness of the flow plate and legs. The curved shapes are parabolic type and are adjusted to optimize the diffusion of the jet to lower pressure drop. The diffusers are bell mouth in type and have a unique shape dictated by the reactor and fuel assembly design. Based on the lower core plate flow hole geometry, lower end fitting design, and the reactor flow rate, the diffuser shapes are optimized to achieve maximum jet diffusion and resultant reduction in damaging vibration of fuel rods and pressure drop due to turbulence. The device acts as bell mouth annular diffusers causing the lower core plate flow hole jets to be diffused and evenly spread before impingement on fuel rods located above the end fitting. This results in a calculated 10% to 15% lower pressure drop for the lower end fitting. It also lowers the jet flow impingement on the assembly's fuel rods. Less jet flow impingement results in lower fuel rod wear due to flow induced vibration of the fuel rods. The addition of these devices are also used as structural members of the end fitting. The devices and members and their placement results in thinner lower end fitting legs, smaller lower end fitting gussets, and thinner flow plates while still maintaining the original strength of the lower end fitting.