Nuclear fuel element

Purpose: To prevent cracks of a fuel can due to stress corrosion owing to iodine (corrosive nuclear fission product) by internally storing specific metal in a nuclear fuel pellet contained in laminated state in a zirconium alloy fuel can. Constitution: An axial hole having a diameter of 0.1 to 1 mm is perforated at the position where becomes at 1,000 to 1,3000C during operation of a nuclear fuel pellet, and particles of metal (Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, Ag) for producing metal iodide stable upon reaction with iodine are filled in the hole. Then, the nuclear fuel pellet thus processed as above is filled in the zirconium alloy fuel can, helium gas is sealed in the can and both ends are closed with end plugs as a nuclear fuel element. (Sekiya, K.)