FUEL ROD BUNDLE FOR A PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR

摘要

A fuel element for a pressurized water reactor contains a multitude of fuel rods, which are guided inside a number of axially interspaced spacers (4) that, together, form a square grid having a multitude of holes (6) arranged in rows (10) and columns (8). A supporting tube is passed through a number of these holes and is joined with material fit inside said holes to the spacer (4) that does not contain any fuel. According to the invention, the supporting tubes are spread out in positions (Pa, Pb, Pc) within the grid in such a manner that, with a predetermined number of supporting tubes and a distribution thereof within the grid, which is rotationally symmetric around 90 DEG with regard to a rotation about the central axis of the spacer (4), said central axis being perpendicular to the grid plane, the number of rows (10f) and columns (8f) that do not contain any supporting tubes is minimal. In addition, it is ensured that optionally remaining inner lying rows (10f) and columns (8f) that do not contain any supporting tubes are not situated next to one another.