CPC G21C 3/3563 (2013.01) [G21C 3/344 (2013.01); G21C 3/356 (2013.01); G21C 3/322 (2013.01); Y02E 30/30 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
1. A nuclear fuel assembly spacer grid comprising:
a plurality of tubular support cells having four walls and four substantially flat corners, wherein one of the flat corners is positioned between two of the walls, wherein at least a first pair of adjacent flat corners of adjacent support cells form a single integral corner between the adjacent support cells, wherein the single integral corner is a unitary one-piece corner that is shared between the first pair of the adjacent corners of the adjacent support cells, and wherein the unitary one-piece corner is a part of each of the adjacent support cells;
a spring supported from each of the four walls of each of the support cells that extends at least partially into the support cell, with the spring having a contact surface that contacts a fuel rod when the fuel rod is loaded in the support cell; and
a hard material coating on the contact surface that is as hard as or harder than SiC.
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