Fuel assembly for a pressurized-water nuclear reactor

Fuel element comprises a number of fuel rods in a square grid with holes formed from axially spaced spacers. A supporting tube is passed through a number of these holes, such that the number of rows and columns that do not contain any supporting tubes is minimal. The remaining inner lying rows and columns that do not contain any supporting tubes are not next to one another. Fuel element comprises a number of fuel rods guided in axially spaced spacers (4) which form a square grid having a number of holes (6) in rows (10) and columns (8). A supporting tube is passed through a number of these holes, and is joined with material inside the holes to the spacer that does not contain any fuel. The supporting tubes are spread out in positions (Pa, Pb, Pc) within the grid, such that the number of rows and columns that do not contain any supporting tubes is minimal. The remaining inner lying rows and columns that do not contain any supporting tubes are not next to one another.