Patent ID: 8611488

Claim:
A debris retention assembly that is configured to be disposed across a flow path through a lower tie plate of a fuel assembly, wherein the flow path is substantially straight, the debris retention assembly comprising: a debris filter configured to be disposed across the flow path, the debris filter comprising filter openings that are configured to impede debris; and a debris retention device positioned upstream from the debris filter with respect to a forward direction of flow along the flow path, the debris retention device comprising: a forward flow channel that is configured to be positioned across the flow path such that the flow path is through the forward flow channel, the forward flow channel comprising at least one channel opening that is larger than the filter openings, wherein the at least one channel opening is configured to allow debris to flow therethrough to the debris filter in the forward flow direction; and a debris tray that opens to an upstream side of debris retention device, wherein the forward flow channel is positioned substantially at the center of the debris retention device and the debris tray is positioned substantially at the perimeter of the forward flow channel.