NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY

摘要

The present invention relates to a fuel assembly with a substantially square cross section for a light-water reactor. The light-water reactor comprises a plurality of fuel rods (4) extending between a top tie plate (5) and a bottom tie plate (6). A fuel rod (4) comprises a cladding tube (7a) which surrounds a column with fissionable material (7b). According to one aspect of the invention, at least one fuel rod (4) is provided with an axial gap (15a) in the fissionable material. Around this axial gap (15a), the thickness (15) of the material is larger than the thickness of the material in the main part of the cladding tube (7a).