US 11,942,230 B2
Spacer grid using tubular cells
Joonhyung Choi, Bellevue, WA (US); Zeses Karoutas, Lexington, SC (US); and Paul M. Evans, Chapin, SC (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/031,098.
Application 17/031,098 is a division of application No. 15/475,186, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, granted, now 10,818,402.
Prior Publication US 2021/0098140 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. G21C 3/356 (2006.01); G21C 3/344 (2006.01); G21C 3/322 (2006.01)
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
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.