Nuclear breeder reactor fuel element with axial tandem stacking and getter
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsRonald L. Gibby, Leo A. Lawrence, Robert E. Woodley, Charles N. Wilson, Edward T. Weber, Carl E. Johnson
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Abstract
A breeder reactor fuel element having a tandem arrangement of fissile and fertile fuel with a getter for fission product cesium disposed between the fissile and fertile sections. The getter is effective at reactor operating temperatures to isolate the cesium generated by the fissile material from reacting with the fertile fuel section.
Claims7
An improved breeder reactor fuel element including a tubular cladding hermetically sealed at each end by an end plug, one interior portion of the cladding defining a fuel plenum filled with a column of fissile material, and a column of fertile material arranged axially in tandem with the fissile column within the cladding, wherein the improvement comprises a cesium getter disposed between the fissile and fertile columns which is substantially effective at reactor operating temperatures to isolate the cesium generated by the fissile material from reacting with the fertile column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.