Said invention increase the stability level of the fuel element with respect to local disturbances.

The helical fuel rod contact portion (52) may have a variable pitch.

Narrower limits can be calculated from the designated burn-up of the fuel rod.

The containers (44) and guide sleeve assemblies (132) are each for receiving a nuclear fuel rod assembly.

The inventive fuel cell for steam-generating plants comprise an energy source thereinside.

The reactor is monitored for detecting a defect on the cladding of any of the fuel rods.

A fuel rod (4) comprises a cladding tube (7a) which surrounds a column with fissionable material (7b).

A method of welding a fuel rod (1) comprises the following steps.

A process for making a cladding for a nuclear fuel rod is disclosed which includes the following steps.

The invention relates to a method of sealing a fuel rod (1) after pressurization with helium.

Finally, the receptacle is flooded, and thereafter the outer pipe enclosing the fuel rod is removed from the receptacle.

A system and method of the present invention measures the relative stress in the cladding of a nuclear fuel rod (10) caused by the internal gas pressure of the rod.

Radius coining allows the fuel rod to smoothly transition over the radiused edge to the flat rod contact section of the dimple.

A lower end plug is sized and shaped to plug the lower end of the nuclear fuel rod.

The contour or the diameter of the fuel rod can be determined by the measured deflection of the probe.