GB822790A - Improvements in or relating to nuclear reactor fuel element assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

822,790. Making nuclear fuel elements; brazing. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL CO. Jan. 13, 1958 [Jan. 23, 1957], No. 1135/58. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). [Also in Group XL (a)] A fuel rod assembly for a nuclear reactor comprises a number of fuel rods 20, Fig. 1, spaced apart by short tubular members 72 which are brazed to the adjacent fuel rods. In making the assembly a row of fuel rods is placed on the lower plate 108 of a brazing fixture, Fig. 6, and a number of tubes 72 are placed over the row and suitably spaced along the length of the fuel rods. A segment 114 of a brazing alloy is then placed on each fuel rod adjacent a spacing tube 72, and another segment is placed on each tube 72; alternatively the segments may be applied in paste form from a syringe. Suitable adhesive may be used to secure the segments temporarily, or alternatively the fuel rods and spacing tubes can be provided with segments of brazing material before being put into the brazing fixture. Each row of fuel rods is built up in this fashion to complete the assembly, and a top plate 118 is secured to the brazing fixture which is then baked or fired. If the casings of the fuel rods and the tubes 72 are of stainless steel the brazing alloy may be that known under the Registered Trade Mark " Nicrobraz ".