FUEL ELEMENTS FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS
A fuel element comprising a fuel member in a protective sheath that has included within the sheath a substance, which, at a temperature above the normal operating temperature of the fuel element, expands more rapidiy than the fuel member and the sheath so as to distort the latter is described. The fuel element can be provided with a strain indicator for detecting the distortion or the substance can be associated with a member for breaching the sheath at a weakened zone on expansion, causing the escape of fission products. The substance can be an adequate metal strip, such as anisotropically expanding U, or a sublimating substance, such as U iodide. The disposition enables the timely detection of leaks in the sheath during operation in a coolant that can oxidize and so thermally insulate the fuel member. (NPO)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-042259
- OSTI ID:
- 4623743
- Report Number(s):
- FR 1276327
- Country of Publication:
- France
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
FUEL ELEMENTS FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR REACTORS