Nuclear fuel rods having cladding tubes with varying diameters

Variable-diameter fuel rods with flared regions address the pressure issue by increasing void volume, improving fuel rod durability and burnup efficiency.

JP7877361B2Active Publication Date: 2026-06-22WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
Filing Date
2022-05-17
Publication Date
2026-06-22

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Abstract

A variable diameter fuel rod for a nuclear reactor assembly is disclosed. The nuclear reactor assembly includes an elongated cladding tube configured to accommodate a plurality of fuel pellets including fissile material arranged toward a fuel stack. The elongated cladding tube includes first and second axial reflector regions, a medial axial region therebetween, a cladding outer diameter of the medial axial region defined as d1, a cladding outer diameter of at least one of the first and second axial reflector regions defined as d2, and a transition region located between the second diameter d1 of the medial axial region and a larger diameter d2 of the axial reflector region. The diameter d2 of the axial reflector region is greater than the diameter d1 of the medial axial region.
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

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  • JP1993126976A