NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC G21C3/30 

FIELD: nuclear engineering; mechanical design of power reactor fuel elements.

SUBSTANCE: proposed nuclear reactor fuel element has can and plugs. Can is filled with nuclear fuel. Plugs are welded to can. One of welds is positioned first along coolant flow within reactor and is disposed under external surface of can so that plug is deepened into the latter. Can has external section and that welded into fuel element can. The latter section whose diameter is smaller than outer diameter of fuel-element can but greater than its inner diameter is terminated with external dross squeezed out of weld. External section of plug is disposed directly past weld. This plug section is made in the form of cylindrical member turning into conical end of diameter smaller than or equal to maximal diameter of fuel-element can but larger than diameter of plug section welded into can. External dross is disposed between butt-end of fuel-element can and butt-end surface of plug external section joining the latter with generating surface of section welded into can.

EFFECT: enhanced manufacturability and reduced pressure drop over reactor coolant flow.

2 cl, 3 dwg