Nuclear Fuel Debris Filter with Segmented Blade Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nuclear fuel assembly debris filters face challenges in efficiently trapping debris while minimizing pressure losses and maintaining ease of manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A debris filter with filtering structures made of blades distributed circumferentially around a structure axis, manufactured at least in part by additive manufacturing, which allows for efficient debris trapping with controlled pressure losses and adaptable retention capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a debris filter with complex filtering structures is designed to efficiently trap debris, then debris trapping efficiency is improved, but pressure losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris trapping efficiencyVSAvoidpressure losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The debris filter is divided into multiple filtering structures (blades) arranged circumferentially around a structure axis. Each blade acts as an independent filtering element, creating multiple flow paths that reduce pressure losses while maintaining effective debris trapping through the segmented blade structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering structures extend along the longitudinal axis of the debris filter, adding a third dimension to the filtering approach. This longitudinal extension creates additional flow paths and trapping zones without significantly increasing pressure losses, as the flow can move through multiple dimensions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If a debris filter with complex shape is manufactured using traditional methods, then manufacturing precision may be achieved, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltering structure precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing method transitions from traditional subtractive or formative processes to additive manufacturing, fundamentally changing the manufacturing parameter approach. This allows complex geometric filtering structures to be built layer-by-layer, achieving high precision while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The manufacturing process replaces traditional mechanical cutting, molding, or assembly methods with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables direct creation of complex filtering structures without requiring multiple machining operations or assembly steps, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4038637B1Nuclear fuel assembly bottom end part debris filter and method of manufacturing such a debris filter

Publication Date: 2024.08.14 FRAMATOME SA

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AI summary

The debris filter has an inlet face (18A) and an outlet face (18B) opposed to the inlet face (18A) and comprises a plurality of filtering structures (50) protruding on the inlet face (18A) of the debris filter (18), each filtering structure (50) having a structure base (52) and a structure apex (54) spaced along a structure axis (A), each filtering structure (50) comprising blades (56) distributed circumferentially around the structure axis (A), each blade having one end connected to the structure base (52) and one end connected to the structure apex (54), each blade (56) delimiting a slot (58) with each adjacent blade (56) of the same filtering structure (50).