Reactor fuel element having larger section steel shielding rods

摘要

A fuel element for a nuclear reactor has a structure comprising support rods, to which upper and lower end plates are fastened; and to which are welded spacer units made from intersecting metal strips which form a matrix of square cells, in which are retained neutron-shielding rods (6), of e.g. steel. The shielding rods (6) are gripped by two protrusions (10,11) which stand between 0 - 1.5 mm proud from two adjacent walls (7,8) of the cell.