Fuel element for nuclear reactors, preferably for sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors

摘要

A fuel element for nuclear reactors, especially for sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors, having elongated fuel rods which are arranged, separated from one another by superimposed spacers, in a hollow fuel can or fuel assembly channel, this fuel assembly channel having at its lower end a bottom fitting and the so-called rod retaining plate thereabove. All the spacers of the fuel rods are fastened individually or jointly only to the inside of the fuel can, and the lower plugs of the fuel rods are clamped between the rod retaining plate and the retaining plate. The rod retaining plate and the retaining plate are joined to one another and jointly fastened to the bottom fitting. Given such a design of the fuel element, it is possible for all the fuel rods to be withdrawn at the same time from the fuel can and the spacers. In this case, the structure of the fuel element remains unchanged. Owing to the special construction of the fuel element, a substantial reduction is achieved in the time required to dismantle and repair a fuel element.