NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC G21C3/30 

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; power reactor fuel elements.

SUBSTANCE: proposed nuclear-reactor fuel element has can sealed with plugs to maintain atmosphere of desired composition therein and pelletized nuclear fuel of enriched uranium disposed within can. Pellets are provided with axial hole and are assembled in fuel column terminating on both ends with shields made of depleted uranium and held tight against fuel column and against one of plugs by means of lock. The latter is disposed in expansion volume of fuel element can. Surfaces of fuel column and shields adjoin inner surface of can in a spaced relation to the latter. Cylindrical pellets form shield. They have axial hole whose axial diameter amounts to 1.2-2.3 of that of pellet column hole. Hole between surface of shields and inner surface of pellets amounts to 1.0-1.3 of clearance between fuel column surface and inner surface of can.

EFFECT: facilitated manufacture of fuel elements, enhanced in-service safety of reactor core incorporating proposed fuel elements.

1 cl, 1 dwg