Gas cooled nuclear reactor fuel element - using porous nuclear fuel filling of spaced vertical selected channels

摘要

A large number of uniformly spaced vertical tubes is clamped between top and bottom perforated plates within an outer envelope to form the major assembly used as each element and so defining two discrete sets of coolant gas flow channels, namely the bases of the tubes proper and the interstitial spaces between them. Uniform grain size particulate fuel material, in separate layers, is stacked in one or other set of channels and remains porous to the coolant gas flow. Esp. the fuel is in the interstices and the walls of the tubes are roughened inside to increase heat transfer. This is rapid and allows high temp. operation without thermal runaway.