High performance fuel element with end seal

Patent · Tue Nov 03 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5806750

Lee, G E; Zogg, G J

This patent describes a pair of generally vertically stacked prismatic fuel elements disposed in a nuclear reactor, each of the elements is substantially identical and comprises: a block of refractory material, such as graphite, having substantially parallel spaced first and second end surfaces, the first end surface having a peripheral sealing flange formed thereon extending away from the second surface, and the second end surface having a peripheral sealing recess sized to receive the flange, the block having longitudinal first coolant passages therethrough disposed inwardly of the flange and the recess coolant, the block further including peripheral longitudinal second coolant passages extending intermediate the end surface and in general alignment with the flange and recess. Each of the second coolant passages has a first end and a second end with each end of the second coolant passages being blocked, the block further comprises two bypasses for each of the second passages, one bypass intersecting the second passage adjacent but spaced from the first end surface and intersecting a first passage, and the other bypass intersecting the second passage adjacent but spaced from the second end surface and intersecting a first passage. The extent of the flange is greater than the depth of the recess so that a plenum is defined by facing first and second end surfaces, the plenum is uninterrupted within the flange of the first end surface defining the plenum.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4704248
• OSTI ID: 5806750
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
CARBON
COOLANTS
DESIGN
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
FLANGES
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ELEMENTS
GRAPHITE
MINERALS
NONMETALS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REFRACTORIES
SEALS