The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 21, 1994
John H Davies, San Jose, CA (US);
General Electric Company, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A cladding tube is provided having an axis and a cross-section perpendicular to the axis. The cross-section includes (1) an outer circumferential substrate having an inner surface, (2) a zirconium barrier layer bonded to the inner surface of the outer circumferential substrate, and (3) an inner circumferential liner bonded to the inner surface of the zirconium barrier layer. The inner circumferential liner includes a plurality of facets aligned substantially in parallel with the cladding tube axis. The facets--which define the geometry of the cladding interior--facilitate mixing among the gases in the cladding interior. Also provided is a fuel element including (1) a cladding tube having an faceted inner liner as described above, (2) nuclear fuel material disposed within said cladding tube in a fuel region, and (3) a plenum or plenums located in one or both end regions (beyond the nuclear fuel region) within the cladding tube. In the event of steam entering the cladding interior, the plenum(s) serves as a reservoir making steam available to dilute locally high hydrogen/steam regions. At least a portion of the nuclear fuel is a uranium dioxide having an oxygen to uranium mole ratio in excess of 2.