BWR fuel assembly having hybrid fuel design

摘要

The invention relates to a boiling-water-reactor fuel assembly including an outer flow channel (12), and a hollow water-cross (26) extending axially through the outer flow channel and dividing the interior of same into compartments (30). In addition to clad rod-type fuel (42) disposed in the outer flow-channel compartments (30) in spaced relationship with respect to both the outer flow channel and the water-cross, there is provided clad plate-type nuclear fuel (54) attached to outer surfaces of the water-cross (26). This hybrid fuel arrangement reduces the power generation per fuel element, thereby minimizing the potential for pellet/cladding interaction failure, and it does so without giving rise to nuclear-hydraulic stability problems.