Nuclear fuel element

Patent · Tue Feb 08 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6355422

Armijo, J S; Coffin, L F

A nuclear fuel element for use in the core of a nuclear reactor is disclosed and has a composite cladding having a substrate and a metal barrier metallurgically bonded on the inside surface of the substrate so that the metal barrier forms a shield between the substrate and the nuclear fuel material held within the cladding. The metal barrier forms about 1 to about 30 percent of the thickness of the cladding and is comprised of a low neutron absorption metal of substantially pure zirconium. The metal barrier serves as a preferential reaction site for gaseous impurities and fission products and protects the substrate from contact and reaction with such impurities and fission products. The substrate of the composite cladding is selected from conventional cladding materials and preferably is a zirconium alloy. Methods of manufacturing the composite cladding are also disclosed.

• Assignee: General Electric Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4372817
• OSTI ID: 6355422
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ADDITIONS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CLADDING
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DEPOSITION
EQUIPMENT
FUEL ELEMENTS
IRON ADDITIONS
IRON ALLOYS
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SHIELDS
SURFACE COATING
TIN ALLOYS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 2
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS