Abstract: An insulated tank assembly with insulation stop and a method of constructing such an assembly. The assembly includes an inner tank with an outer shell located in spaced relation to and surrounding the inner tank, creating at least one annular clearance space between the tank and the shell. The space is closed by a sealing device that includes a circumferential sealing strip having an unstretched strip length that is less than either the continuous outer top edge length or the continuous outer bottom edge length, or both, of the strip. Such length relationships make the sealing strip both resilient and resistant to rolling during construction of the assembly. The sealing strip may be a fibrous strip. The tank assembly may be insulated by placing insulating material within the at least one annular clearance space, which may be a foamable insulation material, foamed in place within the annular clearance space.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly debris filter. Each fuel rod has a ring attached to the lower end cap. The rings are shaped and sized to define a space between the lower end cap and ring such that the space serves to trap, or filter, debris before it reaches the elevation of the fuel cladding. The rings may be circular, elliptical, or any suitable shape that provides the desired filtration effect.