CPC G21C 21/10 (2013.01) [G21C 3/08 (2013.01); G21C 21/16 (2013.01); B22F 5/10 (2013.01); G21C 3/06 (2013.01); G21C 3/322 (2013.01); G21C 3/326 (2013.01); G21C 3/3265 (2019.01); G21C 3/60 (2013.01); G21C 3/64 (2013.01); G21C 21/02 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A method of manufacturing a fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor, the method comprising:
manufacturing each of a plurality of elongated fuel elements by:
mixing fuel material with metal non-fuel material, wherein the fuel material comprises fissile material,
casting the mixed fuel material and metal non-fuel material to create a fuel core stock,
surrounding the fuel core stock with a cladding material,
co-extruding the fuel core stock and cladding material to create the fuel element, and
forming the fuel element with a spirally twisted, multi-lobed profile that defines a plurality of ribs, the multi-lobed profile comprising lobe tips and intersections between adjacent lobs, the cladding material being thicker at the tips than at the intersections; and
mounting the plurality of elongated fuel elements to a frame of the fuel assembly.
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