CERMET fuel element includes a fuel meat of consolidated ceramic fuel particles (preferably refractory-metal coated HALEU fuel kernels) and an array of axially-oriented coolant flow channels. Formation and lateral positions of coolant flow channels in the fuel meat are controlled during manufacturing by spacer structures that include ceramic fuel particles. In one embodiment, a coating on a sacrificial rod (the rod being subsequently removed) forms the coolant channel and the spacer structures are affixed to the coating; in a second embodiment, a metal tube forms the coolant channel and the spacer structures are affixed to the metal tube. The spacer structures laterally position the coolant channels in spaced-apart relation and are consolidated with the ceramic fuel particles to form CERMET fuel meat of a fuel element, which are subsequently incorporated into fuel assemblies that are distributively arranged in a moderator block within a nuclear fission reactor, in particular for propulsion.


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    Title :

    CERMET FUEL ELEMENT AND FABRICATION AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF, INCLUDING IN THERMAL PROPULSION REACTOR


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2024-12-12


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    G21C NUCLEAR REACTORS , Kernreaktoren / B22F Verarbeiten von Metallpulver , WORKING METALLIC POWDER / B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / C22C Legierungen , ALLOYS / F02K JET-PROPULSION PLANTS , Strahltriebwerke



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