Patent ID: 11935661
Assignee: BWXT NUCLEAR ENERGY, INC.
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B  C  F  Y | IPC B  C  F  G

Claim 14:
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the channel blanks is a metal tube, and wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of channel blanks that is equal to or smaller than the final diameter of the fuel element coolant channels prior to consolidating is an inner diameter of each of the metal tubes, and the method further comprises:
before assembling the plurality of channel blanks in spaced-apart relation inside the can assembly, forming the plurality of spacer structures on an outer diameter surface of each of the metal tubes, wherein each of the plurality of spacer structures is formed from a portion of a respective metal tube;
after assembling the plurality of channel blanks in spaced-apart relation inside the can assembly and before sealing the can assembly, heating the unsealed can assembly under a vacuum; and
before consolidating, capping ends of each of the metal tubes and providing a passage for hot-isostatic pressing (HIP) gas to be applied at a pressure of 120 MPa to 300 MPa to an inner diameter surface of each of the metal tubes,
wherein consolidating includes applying the pressure to the inner diameter surface of each of the metal tubes, and
wherein the CERMET fuel meat includes the first plurality of ceramic fuel particles.