Patent ID: 9721678
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G21C,Y02E

Claim:
1. A nuclear reactor, the reactor comprising: a reactor vessel with a nuclear reactor core; a first fuel duct disposed within the nuclear reactor core, the first fuel duct including a first tubular body configured to contain nuclear fuel within a first fuel region; a second fuel duct disposed within the nuclear reactor core, the second fuel duct positioned adjacent to the first fuel duct and including a second tubular body configured to contain fuel within a second fuel region; a first elongated member extending from an outer face of the first tubular body and adjacent to at least a portion of the first fuel region, the first elongated member having a first contact surface; and a second elongated member extending from an outer face of the second tubular body and adjacent to at least a portion of the second fuel region, the second elongated member having a second contact surface facing the first contact surface, the first contact surface spaced apart from the second contact surface at a first temperature of the nuclear reactor core and abutting the second contact surface at a second different temperature of the nuclear reactor core.