Spiral ntp fuel for power flattening

Abstract

A fuel element includes a plurality of coolant channels formed therein. Each of the coolant channels rotate around a longitudinal axis of the fuel element such that a lateral position of a respective coolant channel changes at different longitudinal levels along the longitudinal axis. In one example, the respective coolant channel substantially helically winds around the longitudinal axis. In another example, the changing lateral position of the respective coolant channel forms at least one twist along the longitudinal axis configured to smear a thermal profile of the fuel element to balance power distribution within the fuel element. For example, the at least one twist is configured to spiral a flow of a coolant or a propellant through the fuel element to temperature balance hot and cold spots in a nuclear reactor core. A fabrication method for the fuel element can include additive manufacturing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.