SPHERICAL FUEL ELEMENT AND PRODUCTION THEREOF FOR GAS-COOLED HIGH TEMPERATURE PEBBLE BED NUCLEAR REACTORS (HTR)

摘要

The invention relates to a novel design and production of fuel element pebbleswhich satisfy the requirements of high temperature pebble bed nuclear reactorsof the next generation. The invention uses a shell of the fuel element pebblesthat is devoid of fuel and consists of silicon carbide (SiC) and/or zirconcarbide(ZrC), in addition to natural graphite and graphitized petroleum coke, saidshellhaving a maximum average nominal thickness of 5 mm and preferably only 3mm.