Patents by Inventor Olov Nylund

Olov Nylund has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8855261
    Abstract: A spacer for holding fuel rods includes cells formed by a sleeve having an upper edge and a lower edge and a number of abutment surfaces. The lower edge has a wave shape with wave peaks aligned with a respective one of the abutment surfaces, and wave valleys located between two adjacent ones of the abutment surfaces. The upper edge has a wave shape with wave peaks, which are aligned with a respective one of the abutment surfaces, and wave valleys located between two adjacent ones of the abutment surfaces. Each of the abutment surfaces extend from a respective one of the wave peaks of the upper edge to a respective one of the wave peaks of the lower edge. The sleeves abut each other in the spacer along respective connection areas to make the abutment surfaces rotatable with respect to a center point of the connection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sture Helmersson, Leif Larsson, Olov Nylund, Hakan Soderberg
  • Publication number: 20140016735
    Abstract: A spacer for holding fuel rods includes cells formed by a sleeve having an upper edge and a lower edge and a number of abutment surfaces. The lower edge has a wave shape with wave peaks aligned with a respective one of the abutment surfaces, and wave valleys located between two adjacent ones of the abutment surfaces. The upper edge has a wave shape with wave peaks, which are aligned with a respective one of the abutment surfaces, and wave valleys located between two adjacent ones of the abutment surfaces. Each of the abutment surfaces extend from a respective one of the wave peaks of the upper edge to a respective one of the wave peaks of the lower edge. The sleeves abut each other in the spacer along respective connection areas to make the abutment surfaces rotatable with respect to a center point of the connection area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sture Helmersson, Leif Larsson, Olov Nylund, Hakan Soderberg
  • Patent number: 7804931
    Abstract: The invention refers to a spacer for holding a number if elongated fuel rods intended to be located in a nuclear plant and to a fuel unit having such spacers. The spacer encloses a number of cells, which each has a longitudinal axis and is arranged to receive a fuel rod in such a way that the fuel rod extends in parallel with the longitudinal axis. Each cell is formed by a sleeve-like member. Each sleeve-like member is manufactured in a sheet-shaped material that is bent to the sleeve-like shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sture Helmersson, Leif Larsson, Olov Nylund, H{dot over (a)}kan Söderberg
  • Publication number: 20080267339
    Abstract: The invention refers to a spacer for holding a number if elongated fuel rods intended to be located in a nuclear plant and to a fuel unit having such spacers. The spacer encloses a number of cells, which each has a longitudinal axis and is arranged to receive a fuel rod in such a way that the fuel rod extends in parallel with the longitudinal axis. Each cell is formed by a sleeve-like member. Each sleeve-like member is manufactured in a sheet-shaped material that is bent to the sleeve-like shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sture Helmersson, Leif Larsson, Olov Nylund, Hakan Soderberg
  • Publication number: 20080232536
    Abstract: The invention refers to a spacer for holding a number of elongated fuel rods intended to be located in a nuclear plant, and a fuel unit with such spacers. The spacer encloses a number of cells for receiving a respective fuel rod extending in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective cell. Each cell is formed by a sleeve-like member having an upper edge and a lower edge. The sleeve-like member includes a number of abutment surfaces projecting inwardly towards and extending substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis for abutment to the fuel rod the cell. The lower edge and the upper edge have, seen transversely to the longitudinal axis, a wave-like shape with wave peaks, aligned with a respective one of said abutment surfaces, and wave valleys located between two adjacent ones of said abutment surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
    Inventors: Sture Helmersson, Leif Larsson, Olov Nylund, Hakan Soderberg
  • Patent number: 6876713
    Abstract: A filter for separating particles from cooling water in a nuclear plant of light water model. The filter has an inlet end (2) and an outlet end (3) and allow flowing through of the cooling water in a flow direction z from the inlet end to the outlet end. The filter comprises a plurality of channels (5) extending mainly in the flow from the inlet end to the outlet end. Each of the channels comprise a first (6) channel section provided closer to the inlet end, a second (8) channel section arranged closer to the outlet end, and an intermediate section (7) provided between the first and the second channel section. The intermediate section (7) has an extension d2 in a direction x transversely to the flow direction, which is essentially larger than the extension d1, d3 of the first and the second channel section. The filter further comprises a separating member (9) arranged in the intermediate section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6816563
    Abstract: The invention concerns a spacer and a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor. The spacer has a plurality of cells (10) for holding elongated elements. The cells (10) are defined by a plurality of side portions (12). At least one of said cells (10) has at least one side portion (12) from which a flow-influencing member (20) is formed in that it is folded out from the side portion (12). The side portion (12) from which the flow-influencing member (20) is folded out comprises a first (22) and a second (24) edge surface which are connected to each other and which correspond to the directions of a first (26) and a second (28) edge of said flow-influencing member (20) in a non folded out state of the flow-influencing member (20). The first edge surface (22) has an extension in at least a first direction (14) in which a cooling medium is intended to flow. The second edge surface (24) has an extension in a direction which is perpendicular to said first direction (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Publication number: 20040071255
    Abstract: A filter for separating particles from cooling water in a nuclear plant of light water model. The filter has an inlet end (2) and an outlet end (3) and allow flowing through of the cooling water in a flow direction % from the inlet end to the outlet end. The filter comprises a plurality of channels (5) extending mainly in the flow from the inlet end to the outlet end. Each of the channels comprise a first (6) channel section provided closer to the inlet end, a second (8) channel section arranged closer to the outlet end, and an intermediate section (7) provided between the first and the second channel section. The intermediate section (7) has an extension d2 in a direction x transversely to the flow direction, which is essentially larger than the extension d2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Publication number: 20040042580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly (10) and a tubular element (32, 32′) for a nuclear boiling water reactor. The fuel assembly (10) comprises a plurality of full-length fuel rods (14), at least one part-length fuel rod (15) and at least a tubular element (32, 32′), which is arranged above the part-length fuel rod (15) in the fuel assembly (10). A cooling medium flows, during the operation of the boiling water reactor, upwardly through the fuel assembly (10) in order to cool the fuel rods (14, 15). A part of the cooling medium flow is guided into the tubular element (32, 32′) through at least one inlet opening (34, 34′) and out through at least one outlet opening (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Publication number: 20030147487
    Abstract: The invention concerns a spacer and a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor. The spacer has a plurality of cells (10) for holding elongated elements. The cells (10) are defined by a plurality of side portions (12). At least one of said cells (10) has at least one side portion(12) from which a flow-influencing member (20) is formed in that it is folded out from the side portion (12). The side portion (12) from which the flow-influencing member (20) is folded out comprises a first (22) and a second (24) edge surface which are connected to each other and which correspond to the directions of a first (26) and a second (28) edge of said flow-influencing member (20) in a non folded out state of the flow-influencing member (20). The first edge surface (22) has an extension in at least a first direction (14) in which a cooling medium is intended to flow. The second edge surface (24) has an extension in a direction which is perpendicular to said first direction (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6470062
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor which is designed to allow water, during operation of the reactor, to flow upwards through the fuel assembly while absorbing heat from a plurality of fuel rods, whereby part of the water is transformed into steam. The fuel assembly comprises a first steam pipe (10a) arranged with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuel assembly and the steam pipe comprises an inlet for the steam arranged in the first end of the steam pipe and an outlet for the steam arranged in the second end of the steam pipe. The fuel assembly also comprises a second steam pipe (10b) arranged above and at a distance from the first steam pipe such that an opening is formed between the steam pipes. The outlet of the first steam pipe has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the inlet of the second steam pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6385271
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section wherein the fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4). The fuel rods (4) extend between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly. At least one of the top tie plates (6) or the bottom tie plates (5) comprises flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) for the passage of the coolant and side supports (17) for supporting the fuel rods (4) in the lateral direction. The side supports (17) are designed in one and the same sheet-metal piece as the flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and the side supports (17) are folded substantially 90° in relation to the other structure of the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6347130
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor comprising a plurality of fuel units, stacked on top of each other, each of which comprising a plurality of fuel rods extending vertically between a top tie plate and a bottom tie plate, and means for keeping the fuel elements together. The fuel elements are surrounded by a fuel channel with a substantially square cross section. At least two of the fuel units differ from each other in regard to fuel distribution or free flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6327324
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor comprising a plurality of fuel units (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), stacked on top of each other, each one comprising a top tie plate (5), a bottom tie plate (6) and a plurality of fuel rods (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged between the top tie plate and the bottom tie plate. The fuel units are surrounded by a fuel channel (9) with a substantially square cross section. At least some of the fuel units comprise fuel rods with different diameters and different fuel quantities. The fuel rods are adapted such that fuel quantity and lattice space are optimized laterally and axially in the fuel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Publication number: 20010040936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly for a light-water reactor with a substantially square cross section wherein the fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4). The fuel rods (4) extend between a bottom tie plate (5) and a top tie plate (6) and a coolant is adapted to flow upwards through the fuel assembly. At least one of the top tie plates (6) or the bottom tie plates (5) comprises flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) for the passage of the coolant and side supports (17) for supporting the fuel rods (4) in the lateral direction. The side supports (17) are designed in one and the same sheet-metal piece as the flow openings (22, 22a, 22b) and the side supports (17) are folded substantially 90° in relation to the other structure of the top tie plate (6) or the bottom tie plate (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: OLOV NYLUND
  • Publication number: 20010014135
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor comprising a plurality of fuel units (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), stacked on top of each other, each one comprising a top tie plate (5), a bottom tie plate (6) and a plurality of fuel rods (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged between the top tie plate and the bottom tie plate. The fuel units are surrounded by a fuel channel (9) with a substantially square cross section. At least some of the fuel units comprise fuel rods with different diameters and different fuel quantities. The fuel rods are adapted such that fuel quantity and lattice space are optimized laterally and axially in the fuel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: OLOV NYLUND
  • Patent number: 6275557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly with a substantially square cross section for a light-water reactor. The light-water reactor comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a top tie plate (5) and a bottom tie plate (6). A fuel rod (4) comprises a cladding tube (7a) with a first and a second end which surround a column with fissionable material (7b). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one fuel rod (4) is provided with an axial gap (19) in the fissionable material (7b), such that fissionable material (7b) is arranged on both sides of the axial gap (19) in the fuel rod (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Atom AB
    Inventors: Olov Nylund, Bo Fredin, Sture Helmersson
  • Publication number: 20010001618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly with a substantially square cross section for a light-water reactor. The light-water reactor comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a top tie plate (5) and a bottom tie plate (6). A fuel rod (4) comprises a cladding tube (7a) with a first and a second end which surround a column with fissionable material (7b). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one fuel rod (4) is provided with an axial gap (19) in the fissionable material (7b), such that fissionable material (7b) is arranged on both sides of the axial gap (19) in the fuel rod (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventors: OLOV NYLUND, BO FREDIN, STURE HELMERSSON
  • Patent number: 6236701
    Abstract: A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor comprising at least one rotary cell (13a-13d) which has fuel rods (4) arranged in a number of concentric rings with a substantially circular shape, and a steam conducting channel (17a-17d) arranged in the centre of the concentric rings through which steam flows upwards through the fuel assembly. At least certain of the fuel rods in the rings are arranged such that their upper ends are displaced in relation to their lower ends in the tangential direction such that water and steam are brought to rotate around the steam conducting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Atom AB
    Inventor: Olov Nylund
  • Patent number: 6229868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel assembly for a light-water nuclear reactor with a substantially square cross section which comprises fuel rods (4) extending between a bottom tie plate (16) and a top tie plate (17). A coolant is adapted, during operation, to flow upwards through the fuel assembly. According to one aspect of the invention, the fuel assembly comprises a plurality of fuel units (3) stacked on top of each other, wherein each fuel unit (3) comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a top tie plate (17) and a bottom tie plate (16). The fuel units are arranged attached to a support structure (4a, 14, 14a, 14b) extending through the whole fuel assembly such that axial gaps are formed between the fuel units (3). One of the tie plates is freely movable relative to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Atom AB
    Inventors: Olov Nylund, Thorbjörn Sahlin