Fuel element for a light water reactor, and method for repairing the fuel element

A fuel assembly for a light water reactor, comprising:

• a fuel rod cluster having fuel rods;
• a spacer having webs defining a number of cells for laterally holding said fuel rods, said spacer further including an edge region having a damaged region with at least one damaged cell;
• at least one separate connecting part having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a replacement assembly being fastened selectively above or below, said damaged region of said spacer having said at least one damaged cell, with an aid of said at least one connecting part, said spacer and said replacement assembly each being respectively connected to said connection part in a manner of a snap connection, said replacement assembly having webs defining a number of replacement cells corresponding to a number of said damaged cells, at least a portion of said damaged cells being traversed by said fuel rods, said first end of said connecting part engaging in said spacer and said second end of said connecting part engaging in said replacement assembly for connecting said replacement assembly to said spacer;
• said webs of said spacer and said replacement assembly having end edges;
• and
• said connecting part containing axially extending spring tongues having latching projections each with a radial shoulder, at least one of said axially extending spring tongues penetrating a respective one of said cells of said spacer and at least another of said spring tongues penetrating a respective one of said replacement cells of said replacement assembly, said axially extending spring tongues bearing, at a free end protruding from said respective cell and said respective replacement cell, one of said latching projections, said latching projection engaging with said radial shoulder behind a respective end edge facing said latching projection.