Influence of interpellet spacing on temperature distribution in a fuel element

Temperatures and thermal motions of points of fuel element local sections were calculated according to MRZ program based on using finite element method. The problem was solved on the assumption of plastic-elastic deformation. The initial period of fuel operation was considered. Creep of fuel and fuel can, as well as possibility of cracking were not taken into account. It is concluded that consideration of fuel element in the form of a set of local sections with height, not exceeding 1.5 of a pellet, length is sufficient when calculating temperature in fuel element with pellets of different enrichment and configuration