Nuclear reactor fuel element having improved heat transfer

Details Nuclear reactor fuel element having improved heat transfer Nuclear reactor fuel element having improved heat transfer

G - Physics

21

C

359/67

G21C 3/04 (2006.01) G21C 3/17 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 1195441

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A nuclear reactor fuel element having improved heat transfer between fuel material and cladding is described. The element consists of an outer cladding tube divided into an upper fuel section containing a central core of fission- able or mixed fissionable and fertile fuel material, slightly smaller in diameter than the inner surface of the cladding tube and a small lower accumulator section of the cladding tube being which is filled with a low molecular weight gas to transfer heat from fuel material to cladding during irradiation. A plurality of essentially vertical grooves in the fuel section extend downward and communicate with the accumulator section. The radial depth of the grooves is sufficient to provide a thermal gradient between the hot fuel surface and the relatively cooler cladding surface to allow thermal segregation to take place between the low molecular weight heat transfer gas and high molecular weight fission product gases produced by the fuel material during irradiation. The fission product gases migrate to the cooler cladding surface of the groove and descend by gravity into the accumulator section, while the low molecular weight remain in the fuel section, thus reducing diminution of the heat transfer properties of the low molecular weight gas. The accumulation may also contain gettering material to sorb certain high molecular weight gases to prevent their reentering the fuel section when the fuel element is cold.

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