GB1096276A - Nuclear reactor fuel elements - Google Patents

Abstract

1,096,276. Welding by fusion. UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. March 8, 1965 [March 18, 1964], No. 11401/64. Heading B3R. [Also in Division G4] Nuclear reactor fuel elements, of the type comprising an assembly of plate fuel members role-clad in non-fissile material, are made by securing the plates to supports and/or to one another by electron beam welding unexposed joint faces. The plates may comprise a plate of uranium-aluminium alloy (uranium 90% enriched in V235) between two layers of aluminium. Various joints are described:- In Fig. 2, fuel plates 1 are welded into channels 5 in supports 2 (weld zone designated 7); in a modification the channels are omitted and a single T-joint formed to attach each plate edge to the supports. Fig. 4 illustrates one of a number of similar joints; as indicated, sub-assemblies are made by welds 14, which are then assembled by welds 15. Instead of the rectangular grooves shown in Fig. 4, a sawtooth profile may be used, with the plates resting on the horizontal " tooth flanks " (Figs. 5 to 7) which results in a smaller depth of solid material to be penetrated for a given number of fuel plates. Also, these embodiments show individually made weld seams for each plate edge, made at an oblique angle to the support. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment which dispenses with the supports by using shallow channel action plates; Fig. 9 (not shown) shows a modification of Fig. 8 in which plane fuel plates are used in conjunction with rectangular bar spacers between adjacent plates. Three further embodiments illustrate similar joints to those described, for building up fuel elements in the form of concentric rings, each formed by a plurality of arcuate plates welded to radial webs.