Fuel rod support system - for nuclear reactor core channel esp for hollow tubular rods

摘要

The rods are made up of annular pellets of active material encased in a double walled tube of woven carbon fibre densified by further carbon impregnation. The lowest pellet is sub-divided into sectors by slots machined in the base of the sheath, regularly spaced and axially parallel. These slots engage fins radiating radially inwards from the bottom end of the axially parallel uniformly spaced centralizing ribs on the inside wall of the channel through the core. These ribs contact the outside of the fuel rod. Accurate centralization without sacrifice of useful fuel rod length for fixing devices is achieved.