Nuclear fuel element with fuel rods for gas-cooled reactor

摘要

A nuclear fuel element for use in a gas cooled nuclear reactor, such as a Magnox reactor, has a plurality of fuel pin supports (3,5,7) defining an element axis passing through the supports. Suspended between the supports are a plurality of fuel pins (25) formed by a stack of oxide fuel pellets (26) within a metal tube. Connected between the supports (3,5,7) are a number of elongate members, for example tubular rods (13), which extend parallel to the axis and are disposed around the fuel pins (25). One or more of the tubular rods (13) incorporates a doping material, such as gadolinia. IMAGE