IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO NUCLEAR REACTORS

Patent · Wed Aug 17 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4149816

French, P R.J.

A new design is proposed for gas-cooled reactor fuel elements in which the U part is fabricated in the shape of a tube with fins. The whole is canned with a protective coating (e.g., aluminum). The advantages of such elements over conventionally finned uranium solid rods and uranium tubes are that the temperature gradient in the element is kept low, the surface exposed to the coolant is large, a long path in uranium is presented to neutrons leaving or entering the element, the surface resonance absorption of neutrons is reduced because neutrons arriving at an oblique angle will pass through several fins, and the fins increase coolant turbulence. Three configurations of the fins are possible. These configurations are radial fins, helical fins, and longitudlnal fins with a slight twist. The bore of the tube may be canned or its ends simply plugged. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-14-025033
• OSTI ID: 4149816
• Report Number(s): GB 844605
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
CANNING
CONFIGURATION
DISTRIBUTION
FINS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
NEUTRONS
PATENT
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
RESONANCE ESCAPE PROBABILITY
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
TUBES
TURBULENCE
URANIUM