Method for inspecting nuclear fuel rod or irradiation capsule

Abstract

A method for inspecting a nuclear fuel rod or irradiation capsule in which a heat transfer medium consisting of a liquid metal having a radioactive element uniformly admixed therewith is charged, e.g. poured, into a gap defined between the nuclear fuel material and the sleeve enclosing the fuel material in the nuclear fuel rod or into gaps defined between the nuclear fuel material and the innermost tube and between the adjacent tubes in an irradiation capsule comprising a plurality of concentric tubes enclosing the nuclear fuel material in multiple layers. A film sensitive to the radioactive element is wound about the sleeve of the nuclear fuel rod or about the outermost tube of the capsule, and the conditions of the film after the film has been exposed to the radioactive element are detected. A heat transfer medium for use in the method which may be sodium or NaK having .sup.24 Na admixed uniformly therewith.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.