During the operation of nuclear reactors, fuel element cladding is subjected to prolonged exposure to intense neutron irradiation and high-temperature, high-pressure environments. These conditions may induce deformation and bulging in the fuel cladding. In this study, plate-type Accident-Tolerant Fuel (ATF) elements are investigated. Using the finite volume method, discrete algebraic equations for heat conduction in fuel elements are derived. A two-dimensional temperature field calculation model for normal fuel elements is established in a Cartesian coordinate system. Additionally, discrete algebraic equations and temperature field models for bulging fuel elements are developed using a source term method to reconstruct heat transfer boundaries. A two-dimensional heat conduction model for fuel elements with multiple bulging points is implemented using MATLAB. Three distinct bulging configurations of fuel elements are modeled, and the heat conduction process in bulging fuel is simulated. The study reveals and analyzes the effects of different bulging patterns on the heat conduction performance of fuel elements. The research findings provide theoretical insights into heat conduction under bulging and blockage conditions.