Abstract: A nuclear fuel element for use in water-cooled nuclear power reactors and an improved multilayered silicon carbide tube for use in water-cooled nuclear power reactors and other high temperature, high strength thermal tubing applications including solar energy collectors. The fuel element includes a multilayered silicon carbide cladding tube. The multilayered silicon carbide cladding tube includes (i) an inner layer; (ii) a central layer; and (iii) a crack propagation prevention layer between the inner layer and the central layer. A stack of individual fissionable fuel pellets may be located within the cladding tube. In addition, a thermally conductive layer may be deposited within the cladding tube between the inner layer of the cladding tube and the stack of fuel pellets. The multilayered silicon carbide cladding tube may also be adapted for other high temperature, high strength thermal tubing applications including solar energy collectors.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel element for use in water-cooled nuclear power reactors. The fuel element includes a multilayered silicon carbide cladding tube. The multilayered silicon carbide cladding tube preferably includes an inner layer and a central layer. Also, in one embodiment, the ends further include hermetically sealed end caps. The cladding tube is sized to receive a stack of individual fissionable fuel pellets. In one embodiment, the fuel pellets comprise a mixture of thorium oxide and plutonium oxide.