Fuel rod bundle spacer with flow directing tabs

摘要

A spacer for use with a fuel bundle in a nuclear reactor includes a matrix of ferrules (F') for surrounding individual fuel rods (12') within a bundle; a band (40) surrounding the matrix and defining a peripheral wall of the spacer, the band having an upper edge; and a plurality of laterally spaced flow tabs (44) extending upwardly from the upper edge, each flow tab (44) having a lower substantially vertical portion (46) and an upper inclined portion (48) extending away from the vertical portion. The vertical portion (46) and the inclined portion (48) are formed with centrally located creases (50,50') which define reverse bends in the upper and lower portions of the tab.