A fuel element, a fuel assembly and a method of using a fuel assembly

摘要

The invention relates to light water reactor designs in which thorium is used as fuel and in particular to designs of jacketless fuel assemblies, which make up the cores of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) such as the VVER-1000. A fuel element is provided for use in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, the fuel element comprising a kernel comprising fissionable material, wherein the fuel element has a multi-lobed profile that forms spiral ribs.