Nuclear fuel rod and manufacturing method

Assembly comprising a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube and an end plug,

• the cladding tube is configured to contain nuclear fuel therein,
• the cladding tube extending along a central axis and having a first end and a second end,
• the cladding tube comprising an outer surface extending over the entire length of the cladding tube between the ends,
• wherein the outer surface is covered by a tube coating,
• a weld arrangement fixing the end plug to an end of the cladding tube, sealing the end in a leak-tight manner,
• the end plug being fixed to the end of the cladding tube without affecting the shape of an interface between the cladding tube and the end plug,
• an outer surface of the end plug is at least partially covered by an end plug coating prior to the end plug being fixed to the cladding tube,
• the end plug coating and the tube coating are contiguous at an interface between the end plug coating and the tube coating, and
• the end plug coating and the tube coating are made of the same material.

A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel rod,

• the nuclear fuel rod comprising nuclear fuel, a cladding, and end plugs,
• the cladding comprising a tube extending along a central axis and having two ends,
• the tube being covered by a tube coating,
• wherein the tube coating extends over the entire length of the tube from one end of the tube to the other end,
• each end plug being fixed to a respective end of the tube, sealing the respective end in a leak-tight manner,
• at least one end plug of the end plugs being welded to a respective end of the tube without affecting the shape of an interface between the tube and the at least one end plug,
• the at least one end plug being at least partially covered by an end plug coating prior to the welding,
• the end plug coating and the tube coating are made of the same material, and
• the end plug coating and the tube coating are contiguous at an interface between the end plug coating and the tube coating;
• the method comprising:
• producing the tube and the end plugs, with each end plug being coated with the end plug coating;
• and
• welding by electric resistance welding the at least one end plug to the respective end of the tube.