Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A spacer grid for a nuclear reactor fuel bundle, said grid comprising:a plurality of interstitial dividers that form an array of cells, each cell structured to retain a respective one of a plurality of fuel rods to form an array of equally spaced fuel rods; anda perimeter band peripherally surrounding the dividers, the perimeter band including a plurality of spring tabs formed along a bottom edge of the perimeter band, each of the spring tabs having a proximal portion having a substantially straight length extending from the bottom edge of the perimeter band at an angle away from the dividers and a distal portion configured to contact and apply a spring force to an interior surface of a respective one of a plurality of walls of a channel in which the arrayed fuel rods can be inserted to form the fuel bundle, the plurality of spring tabs being configured such that each of the distal portions contacts and applies the spring force to the interior surface below a bottom edge of the perimeter band, each of the springs tabs being further configured so that a length of the proximal portion is longer than a length of the distal portion. 2. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein each spring tab is formed to be a separate and independent structure from the other springs tabs. 3. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band, and the spring tabs are contiguously formed along the entire length of each side. 4. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs are equally spaced apart along the entire length of each side. 5. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs are formed in at least one contiguous group along at least one portion of each side, the contiguous group including at least two spring tabs. 6. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs are formed along each side to include at least one stand-alone spring tab spaced apart from at least one group of at least two contiguous spring tabs. 7. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the cell array includes four sides and at least one beveled corner formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs include at least one corner spring tab extending at an angle from a respective beveled corner of the cell array. 8. The spacer grid of claim 7, wherein the at least one corner spring tab has a straight length and is contoured about a longitudinal axis of the at least one corner spring tab, the contour matching a contour of a corner of the channel such that the distal end of the at least one corner spring tab will fit flush within the channel corner when the arrayed fuel rods are inserted into the channel. 9. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein each spring tab is structured to contact the interior surface of the channel walls such that when the arrayed fuel rods are inserted within the channel and the channel is installed within a nuclear reactor, the distal ends of the spring tabs will interfere with a flow of coolant through the channel that is entrained on the channel walls to break up the entrained flow and direct the entrained flow toward the fuel rod array. 10. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the spring tabs are structured to provide sufficient spring force, based on the angle, against the channel walls, when the arrayed fuel rods are inserted within the channel and the channel is installed within a nuclear reactor, to maintain the arrayed fuel rods substantially centered within the channel during operation of the nuclear reactor to maximize power generation of the fuel bundle. 11. The spacer grid of claim 1, wherein the spring tabs are structured to provide sufficient spring force against the channel walls, when the arrayed fuel rods are inserted within the channel, to dampen movement of the arrayed fuel rods within the channel and prevent damage to the fuel rods during shipping of the fuel bundle. 12. A spacer grid for a nuclear reactor fuel bundle, said grid comprising:a plurality of interstitial dividers that form an array of cells, each cell structured to retain a respective one of a plurality of fuel rods to form an array of equally spaced fuel rods; anda perimeter band peripherally surrounding the dividers such that the cell array is a four-sided cell array, the perimeter band including,a plurality of independent spring tabs formed along a edge of the perimeter band and extending from the edge at an angle away from the dividers, each spring tab including, a proximal end portion that joins the spring tabs with the perimeter band edge and at which the angle away from the dividers is formed; anda distal end, each spring tab structured such that the distal ends will contact and apply a spring force to an interior surface of a respective one of a plurality of walls of a channel in which the arrayed fuel rods can be inserted to form the fuel bundle, each spring tab being configured such that the distal end contacts and applies the spring force to the interior surface below a bottom edge of the perimeter band, wherein a length of the distal end is less than a length of the proximal end portion. 13. The spacer grid of claim 12, wherein each spring tab is formed to have a substantially straight, flat length. 14. The spacer grid of claim 12, wherein the spring tabs are contiguously formed along the entire length of each side. 15. The spacer grid of claim 12, wherein the spring tabs are equally spaced apart along the entire length of each side. 16. The spacer grid of claim 12, wherein the spring tabs are formed in at least one contiguous group along at least one portion of each side, the contiguous group including at least two spring tabs. 17. The spacer grid of claim 12, wherein the perimeter band forms the four-sided cell array with at least one beveled corner and the plurality of spring tabs include at least one corner spring tab extending at an angle from a respective beveled corner of the cell array. 18. The spacer grid of claim 17, wherein the at least one corner spring tab has a straight length and is contoured about a longitudinal axis of the at least one corner spring tab, the contour matching a contour of a corner of the channel such that the distal end of the at least one corner spring tab will fit flush within the channel corner when the arrayed fuel rods are inserted into the channel. 19. A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor, said fuel bundle comprising:a plurality of fuel rods:a spacer grid including a plurality of interstitial dividers and a perimeter band peripherally surrounding the dividers to form an array of cells, each cell having a respective one of the fuel rods therein to form an array of equally spaced fuel rods;an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed fuel rods are housed; anda plurality of spring tabs extending from an edge of the perimeter band at an angle away from the dividers such that a distal end of each spring tab contacts and applies a spring force to an interior surface of one of a plurality of walls of the channel, the plurality of spring tabs being configured such that each of the distal ends contacts and applies the spring force to the interior surface below a bottom edge of the perimeter band, wherein each spring tab is further configured to change a magnitude of a spring force applied against the interior surface of one of a plurality of walls of the channel in response to a movement of the perimeter band with respect to the channel. 20. The fuel bundle of claim 19, wherein an interior surface of each channel wall includes a transverse furrow in which distal ends of the respective spring tabs are positioned. 21. The fuel bundle of claim 19, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band, and the spring tabs are contiguously formed along the entire length of each side. 22. The fuel bundle of claim 19, wherein the cell array includes four sides formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs are formed in at least one contiguous group along at least one portion of each side, the contiguous group including at least two spring tabs. 23. The fuel bundle of claim 19, wherein the cell array includes four sides and at least one beveled corner formed by the perimeter band and the spring tabs include at least one corner spring tab extending at an angle from a respective beveled corner of the cell array.