METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; fuel elements for nuclear reactors using liquid-metal coolants. SUBSTANCE: proposed method involves manufacture of fuel element can with bottom plug welded thereto. Spacer tube is inserted into can throughout its entire length and charged with ceramic and lead pellets. Upper pellet is set at pressure acting along can axis from top downwards. Spacer tube is lifted within can to lower lead pellet level. Bottom part of fuel element can is heated. Lower lead pellet is melted and clearance between lower ceramic pellets and can is filled with melt. Lead layer between can and ceramic pellets in bottom part of fuel element can is cooled down and subjected to oriented crystallization. Then spacer tube is lifted to next lead pellet, heating zone is also displaced upwards for melting this pellet, and clearances between lower ceramic pellets and can are filled with melt. After that process is repeated several times until uniform lead layer is completely formed throughout entire height of ceramic pellets. Ceramic pellet pile is locked in can, the latter is treated in vicinity of top end, top plug is welded in controlled gas environment, and finishing operations are made; In this way uniform lead layer free from gas inclusions is formed between fuel pile and fuel element can. EFFECT: facilitated procedure, simplified design of process equipment. 5 cl, 1 dwg