Encapsulated fuel unit and method of forming same
This invention teaches an encapsulated fuel unit for a nuclear reactor, such as for an enriched uranium fuel plate of thin cross section of the order of 1/64 or 1/8 of an inch and otherwise of rectangular shape 1-2 inches wide and 2-4 inches long. The case is formed from two similar channel-shaped half sections extended lengthwise of the elongated plate and having side edges butted and welded together to define an open ended tube-like structure and from porous end caps welded across the open ends of the tube-like structure. The half sections are preferably of stainless steel between 0.002 and 0.01 of an inch thick, and are beam welded together over and within machined and hardened tool steel chill blocks. The porous end caps preferably are of T-316-L stainless steel having pores of approximately 3-10 microns size.
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4500488
- OSTI ID:
- 5569925
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Improved encapsulated fuel unit and method of forming same
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Related Subjects
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
ACTINIDES
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM
FABRICATION
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PLATES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
JOINING
MATERIALS
METALS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
URANIUM
WELDING