Patent Number: 039473201
Section: summary

This invention relates to fuel elements for a neutronic reactor. In particular it pertains to the structural make-up of material containing fissionable isotope for a nuclear reactor. Reference is made to my copending application, Ser. No. 721,108, filed Jan. 9, 1947 now U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,117 issued Dec. 19, 1960 and to the copending application of Leo Szilard, Ser. No. 698,334, filed Sept. 20, 1946, now U.S. Pat. 3,103,475 issued Sept. 10, 1963, for a showing of the type of reactors involved. This invention involves a partial departure from conventional fuel elements having a single cylindrical body of material containing a fissionable isotope, such as uranium. Such a body is difficult and costly to manufacture because of the necessity to machine to precise dimensions. Also the body develops undesirable elongated crystals in the direction of rolling operation preceding the step of machining. Further, uranium is a relatively poor heat conductor. An object of this invention is to provide a structure for material containing fissionable isotope for a reactor, which structure can be manufactured cheaply and easily by such simple operations as stamping or upsetting without a need for machining to accurate size. Another object is the provision of a structural make-up for material containing fissionable isotope which does not exhibit a pronounced tendency to grow in a single direction. A further object is to provide a structure of a fuel element for a reactor which structure has improved heat conductivity. This permits the heat of fission generated in the fissionable isotope to be dissipated more repeatedly and consequently the reactor to be operated at a higher specific power. Other objects and advantages of this invention will, in part, be obvious and appear hereinafter.