FIELD: nuclear power engineering; experimental run of nuclear reactor fuel elements. SUBSTANCE: thermal-power density in fuel element is measured at constant level of nuclear reactor thermal power, fuel material supercondensation time is recorded, and fuel element can temperature is calculated from expression given in description of invention. Device implementing this method has fuel element whose can accommodates fuel material placed in a spaced relation, integrated heat flux calorimeter, and thermocouple. Fuel element holds inside thin-walled shell mounted along its axis in a spaced relation and filled with fuel material whose thickness is smaller than shell diameter; clearance formed meets definite relationship. EFFECT: enhanced accuracy of fuel-element can temperature calculation results. 6 cl, 4 dwg
