Nuclear Fuel Assembly Debris Trapping Filter with Curved Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-debris filters for nuclear reactor fuel assemblies face challenges such as high manufacturing complexity, significant hydraulic resistance, and increased labor costs due to complex geometries and small crosspiece thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising two interconnected plate-type filter elements with channels for coolant passage, where the channels in the lower element are inclined and those in the upper element are parallel to the fuel assembly axis, utilizing waterjet cutting to create slots separated by vertical ribs and crosspieces with roundings, and a gap between the ribs and crosspieces of different plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If densely perforated flat plate with chevron-shaped holes is used, then debris trapping capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and labor costs increase due to small crosspiece thickness (0.3-0.6 mm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the filter element by using rectilinear plates with larger crosspiece thickness (10-20 mm) instead of thin crosspieces (0.3-0.6 mm), and forms curvilinear channels through waterjet cutting rather than traditional perforation methods. This parameter change maintains debris trapping capability while dramatically simplifying manufacturing.
2Reliability
If densely perforated flat plate with chevron-shaped holes is used, then debris trapping capability is improved, but hydraulic resistance increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the channel geometry by forming curvilinear channels through waterjet cutting of rectilinear plates. The curved channel paths reduce flow separation and vortex formation compared to sharp chevron shapes, thereby reducing hydraulic resistance while maintaining effective debris interception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the channel cross-section from small chevron holes to larger curvilinear channels with greater crosspiece thickness (10-20 mm), which reduces flow velocity and turbulence intensity, thereby decreasing hydraulic resistance while maintaining trapping effectiveness.
3Reliability
If two plate-type filter elements with intersecting rectilinear plates are used, then debris trapping is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to high assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual plates into two integrated plate-type filter elements with pre-formed curvilinear channels. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps compared to assembling multiple intersecting rectilinear plates, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the multi-directional trapping capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively traps debris of any size without reducing the coolant flow cross-section, reduces hydraulic resistance by minimizing vortex formation, simplifies manufacturing, and increases the reliability of the fuel assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the channels for the coolant passage are produced by waterjet cutting to form slots in the area of a filter element plate
Implementation Method 2
the presence of roundings on the vertical ribs and the crosspieces between the channels reduces formation of vortices after the crosspieces, which aids in reducing the coefficient of hydraulic resistance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for trapping debris in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, which is mounted in the bottom nozzle of the fuel assembly. The device consists of two interconnected plate-type filter elements arranged one above the other and having channels for the passage of a coolant. In the lower filter element, the channels are inclined toward the axis of the fuel assembly, and in the upper filter element, the channels are parallel to the axis of the fuel assembly. The channels can be produced, in particular, by waterjet cutting to form slots in the field of a filter element plate, the slots being separated lengthwise by vertical ribs and widthwise by crosspieces. The vertical ribs and the crosspieces between the channels of each of the filter elements have roundings formed thereon, and a gap is provided between the vertical ribs and crosspieces formed in the plates of different filter elements. The technical result is the possibility of intercepting and trapping debris of any size contained in a coolant loop, without reducing the flow cross section for the coolant.