Vented nuclear fuel element. [LMFBR]

Patent · Tue Dec 07 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7121668

Oguma, M; Maru, A; Sagi, E; Kawahara, S

The vented nuclear fuel element comprises a cladding tube containing nuclear fuel therein and a device disposed in the upper portion of the cladding tube for venting gaseous fission products released from the nuclear fuel. The venting device comprises a porous plug for closure of the top end of the venting tube, which plug has the property of getting wet with the surrounding coolant, two plates that in cooperation with the cladding tube define a chamber for holdup of the gaseous fission products, a capillary tube for introducing the gaseous fission products from the nuclear fuel into the upper portion of the chamber, another capillary tube for introducing the gaseous fission products from the lower portion of the chamber to the porous plug, and a check valve for preventing the gaseous fission products within the chamber from flowing back into the interior of the cladding tube. Upon operation of the nuclear reactor, the gaseous fission products released from the nuclear fuel will pass through the check valve and the first mentioned capillary tube to reach the chamber, and from the chamber the gaseous fission products will pass through the second mentioned capillary tube and be vented through the porous plug to the coolant surrounding the nuclear fuel element.

• Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Patent Number(s): US 3996100
• OSTI ID: 7121668
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
DESIGN
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
VENTS