Nuclear reactor fuel element sub-assemblies

Reference is made to fuel element sub-assemblies for use in a Na cooled fast reactor. Such sub-assemblies may comprise a hexagonal bundle of slender fuel elements enclosed in a tubular sleeve, often referred to as a 'wrapper'. The fuel elements are spaced apart by helical wire wraps forming fins and which also space the wrapper from the bundle. The wire wraps make contact with the sheaths of adjacent elements and with the wrapper, so that each fuel element is well supported against thermal, bowing, rattling and vibration, whilst allowing adequate coolant flow passages through the bundle. The arrangement of the fuel elements usually provides two groups of passageways for coolant flow through the bundle -an inner group each bounded by four fuel elements, and an outer group each bounded by two outer fuel elements and the wrapper. It has been found, however, that this arrangement results in over-cooling of the outer fuel elements. An arrangement is described that overcomes this disadvantage to a considerable extent. The fuel elements are arranged in three groups - an inner group, and intermediate group and an outer group. The fins on the outer group elements are helically wound at half the pitch of the other two groups and alternate outer group elements are wound opposite handed to abutting outer row elements; elements of the outer and intermediate groups are orientated and end located to enable them to nest together. By utilising half pitch helical fins on the outer elements a greater number of lateral support points is obtained for the outer and intermediate groups of elements and the increased number of turns of fins on the outer elements assist in reducing overcooling of the outer elements. (U.K.)