Nuclear fuel bundle spacer spring force measurement system

摘要

The spring force measurement system includes a draw rod standard, an insertion tube and an extension tube, together with a cable received through the tubes connecting the standard and a load cell, in turn connected by the cable to a winch. The draw rod standard is located in the fuel bundle below the spacer having a spring whose spring force is to be measured. By drawing the standard through the spacer cell, the spring force is computed using the measured tension in the connecting cable as the standard is withdrawn and the known values of the coefficient of friction between the spacer spring projection and the draw rod standard and the combined weight of the cable and draw rod standard. The measuring process is repeated for next higher spacers.