Guide tube for a nuclear fuel assembly, and a method of manufacturing such a tube

摘要

A method of manufacturing a guide tube for a nuclear fuel assembly, in which a tubular blank of constant thickness is prepared, the thickness of the blank is reduced over a fraction of its length in the range 70% to 90% while maintaining a constant inner diameter, and then that section of the blank which has retained its original thickness is forced inwardly by an amount such that a tube is formed which has a constant outside diameter and a variable thickness.