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.

Abstract: A multi-layered ceramic tube having an inner layer of high purity beta phase stoichiometric silicon carbide, a central composite layer of continuous beta phase stoichiometric silicon carbide fibers, and an outer layer of fine-grained silicon carbide. The ceramic tube is particularly suited for use as cladding for a fuel rod used in a power plant or reactor. The ceramic tube has a desirable combination of high initial crack resistance, stiffness, ultimate strength, and impact and thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A multi-layered ceramic tube having an inner layer of high purity beta phase stoichiometric silicon carbide, a central composite layer of continuous beta phase stoichiometric silicon carbide fibers, and an outer layer of fine-grained silicon carbide. The ceramic tube is particularly suited for use as cladding for a fuel rod used in a power plant or reactor. The ceramic tube has a desirable combination of high initial crack resistance, stiffness, ultimate strength, and impact and thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A ceramic element for a sootblower element is disclosed in which the element is manufactured by winding a ceramic fiber around a mandrel and subsequently densifying the composite using a sol-gel process. Separate elements are coupled together using a ceramic coupling member. Ceramic nozzle bodies are inserted into the elements. The sootblower tubes disclosed herein can withstand greater temperatures and more corrosive environments than currently used metallic lance tubes, thus enabling the sootblower element to be permanently installed within a boiler and eliminating the need for a retracting element type sootblower.

Abstract: A fuel rod for a water cooled nuclear reactor comprises a cladding made of a continuous wound ceramic fiber tube. The wound fibers are impregnated with a matrix to achieve a required density and exposed to ammonia gas to create a solid gel. The gel is fired to form a ceramic composite having desirable thermal properties, strength, corrosion resistance, toughness and neutron capture cross-section.