Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a pressure-compensated load transfer device that includes a plate having a first shaft vertically installed on one side and a second shaft vertically installed on the other side to be coaxial with the first shaft. Also included is a first bellows having an opening in one side to surround the first shaft, with the other side thereof being fixed to the one side of the plate. Further included is a plurality of second bellows each having an opening in one end, with the other end thereof being attached to the other side of the plate. A housing is also included, and the housing includes a high-pressure working hole communicating with the opening of the first bellows and a high-pressure channel coplanar with the high-pressure working hole and communicating with the openings of the second bellows. The plate is back-and-forth movably received in the housing.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of a pressure-compensated load transfer device that includes a plate having a first shaft vertically installed on one side and a second shaft vertically installed on the other side to be coaxial with the first shaft. Also included is a first bellows having an opening in one side to surround the first shaft, with the other side thereof being fixed to the one side of the plate. Further included is a plurality of second bellows each having an opening in one end, with the other end thereof being attached to the other side of the plate. A housing is also included, and the housing includes a high-pressure working hole communicating with the opening of the first bellows and a high-pressure channel coplanar with the high-pressure working hole and communicating with the openings of the second bellows. The plate is back-and-forth movably received in the housing.

Abstract: A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A combination of a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: A joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble of a nuclear fuel assembly and, more particularly, a structure for joining an inner-extension tube, the top nozzle and the guide thimble. When an inner-extension tube head, which is provided as a means for facilitating removal of the top nozzle of the nuclear fuel assembly from the guide thimble, is removed from an inner-extension tube body to separate the top nozzle from the nuclear fuel assembly, the inner-extension tube body is prevented from undesirably rotating, so that the guide thimble and the inner-extension tube body can maintain the joined state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble. The joint structure includes an outer guide post, an inner-extension tube head, an inner-extension tube body, a wedge and the guide thimble. The outer guide post is provided with an external thread formed on a lower end thereof. The inner-extension tube head includes an annular retaining part formed on an upper end thereof. An internal thread is formed on a medial portion of the inner-extension tube head. An external thread is formed on each of upper and lower ends of the inner-extension tube body. A stop protrusion is provided under a lower end of the wedge. The wedge is welded to the inner-extension tube body after the top nozzle has been joined with the guide thimble. A stop protrusion receiving depression is formed in the guide thimble.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joint structure between a top nozzle and a guide thimble. The joint structure includes an outer guide post, an inner-extension tube head, an inner-extension tube body, a wedge and the guide thimble. The outer guide post is provided with an external thread formed on a lower end thereof. The inner-extension tube head includes an annular retaining part formed on an upper end thereof. An internal thread is formed on a medial portion of the inner-extension tube head. An external thread is formed on each of upper and lower ends of the inner-extension tube body. A stop protrusion is provided under a lower end of the wedge. The wedge is welded to the inner-extension tube body after the top nozzle has been joined with the guide thimble. A stop protrusion receiving depression is formed in the guide thimble.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spacer grid assembly with mixing vanes supporting fuel rods of nuclear fuel assemblies and mixing coolant that flows around the fuel rods, and more particularly, a spacer grid equipped with mixing vanes that mix coolant flowing around fuel rods. The spacer grid with hydraulically balanced mixing vane patterns, in the spacer grid equipped with a strip dividing a plurality of unit grid cells and a plurality of springs, protruded in uniform directions of vertical and horizontal directions on a grid surface of the strip and supporting nuclear fuel rods, which includes: a plurality of mixing vanes protruded to the downstream of coolant on an upper end of the inner grid surface, wherein positions and directions of the mixing vanes are formed in regular patterns on the spacer grid. Thus, it can minimize coolant flow induced vibration of the spacer grid by balancing hydraulic load generated by the mixing vanes, around the center of the spacer grids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a top nozzle for a nuclear fuel assembly that has a two-stage elastic section such that a pushing force against the axial movement of the nuclear fuel assembly under normal conditions is optimized and at the same time a suppressing force against a drastic uplifting force of the nuclear fuel assembly under transient conditions is strengthened, and that lowers the elastic coefficients of the springs operating under normal conditions more than those of existing coil springs, thereby providing an optimal pushing force against the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel rod of a nuclear fuel assembly having a vase-like compression spring adapted to increase the internal volume thereof wherein when the vase-like compression spring is inserted into a cladding tube, it has a relatively smaller volume occupied inside the fuel rod when compared with the existing coil type compression spring, such that the vase-like compression spring can ensure a sufficient space portion receiving the fission gases generated during the operation of the fuel rod, thereby increasing the burn-up performance of the fuel rod and the mechanical integrity thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-fretting wear spacer grid having a plurality of canoe-shaped springs formed thereon, wherein each of the canoe-shaped springs includes: a fuel rod-contacting part having a flat surface having a predetermined longitudinal length so as to have linear contact with the fuel rod; a curved face-connecting part formed on the upper and lower portions of the fuel rod-contacting part; a leg-connecting part formed on the end portion of the curved face-connecting part; and legs each being formed of a plate shape having a predetermined length and connecting the both sides of the leg-connecting part with one unit grid cell surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bottom spacer grid with a louver on a spring that can filter debris flowed through a channel of a lower end fitting with coolant on the lower end fitting of a nuclear fuel assembly, and can prevent uplift of fuel rods due to coolant, simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a top nozzle having on-off type of hold-down springs for a nuclear fuel assembly that has a two-stage elastic section such that a pushing force against the axial movement of the nuclear fuel assembly under normal conditions is optimized and at the same time a suppressing force against a drastic uplifting force of the nuclear fuel assembly under transient conditions is strengthened, and that lowers the elastic coefficients of the springs operating under normal conditions more than those of existing coil springs, thereby providing an optimal pushing force against the nuclear fuel assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bottom spacer grid with a louver on a spring that can filter debris flowed through a channel of a lower end fitting with coolant on the lower end fitting of a nuclear fuel assembly, and can prevent uplift of fuel rods due to coolant, simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-fretting wear spacer grid having a plurality of canoe-shaped springs formed thereon, wherein each of the canoe-shaped springs includes: a fuel rod-contacting part having a flat surface having a predetermined longitudinal length so as to have linear contact with the fuel rod; a curved face-connecting part formed on the upper and lower portions of the fuel rod-contacting part; a leg-connecting part formed on the end portion of the curved face-connecting part; and legs each being formed of a plate shape having a predetermined length and connecting the both sides of the leg-connecting part with one unit grid cell surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a joining structure between a top nozzle and guide thimbles in a nuclear fuel assembly, which can prevent a rotation of inner insertion tube bodies when the top nozzle is separated from the nuclear fuel assembly and promote convenience in assembling and disassembling the top nozzle and the guide thimbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel rod of a nuclear fuel assembly having a vase-like compression spring adapted to increase the internal volume thereof wherein when the vase-like compression spring is inserted into a cladding tube, it has a relatively smaller volume occupied inside the fuel rod when compared with the existing coil type compression spring, such that the vase-like compression spring can ensure a sufficient space portion receiving the fission gases generated during the operation of the fuel rod, thereby increasing the burn-up performance of the fuel rod and the mechanical integrity thereof.