Holder used for fuel elements of pressurized water reactor comprises spring arrangement containing spring elements acting between lower side of upper core lattice and upper side of fuel element head

摘要

A holder comprises a spring arrangement containing spring elements acting between the lower side of an upper core lattice and the upper side of a fuel element head (21). The spring arrangement has a first spring element (27) whose maximum extension possible during operation of the reactor is lower than the maximum extension of the second spring element (28). The holder also comprises a unit for reducing the maximum extension of the first spring element during the cold phase of the reactor. Preferred Features: The maximum extension of the first spring element is delimited by a directional safety catch having several axial locking positions. The safety catch comprises an axially moving part coupled with the first spring element and a blocking part in the expansion direction.