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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4000655

A reactor fuel element comprising a stack of UO/sub 2/ pellets in a protective sheath, e.g. sthinless steel, is designed which solves the problem of straining due to differential expansion. The UO/sub 2/ pellets each have at least one end shaped to have a flat rim around a depression, The depressions generally have a depth 0.01 to 0.001 of the pollet lengih and a diameter 50 to 80% of the pellet diameter, and they allow a degree of axial expansion of the fuel at the centers. Typical pellet and depression diameter are given for a 100- Mw(t) gas-cooled reactor with a core outlet temperature of 525 deg C. The assembly of the fuel element is described. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-18-021623
OSTI ID:
4000655
Report Number(s):
GB 955336
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English