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Title: Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors

Abstract

Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for use in advanced high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR's). Advanced uranium bi-carbide, uranium tri-carbide and uranium carbonitride nuclear fuels can be used. These fuels have high melting temperatures, high thermal conductivity, and high resistance to erosion by hot hydrogen gas. Tri-carbide fuels, such as (U,Zr,Nb)C, can be fabricated using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to simultaneously deposit each of the three separate carbides, e.g., UC, ZrC, and NbC in a single CVI step. By using CVI, a thin coating of nuclear fuel may be deposited inside of a highly porous skeletal structure made, for example, of reticulated vitreous carbon foam.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. Pocoima, CA
  3. Pacoima, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
978847
Patent Number(s):
7666463
Application Number:
11/435,412
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Youchison, Dennis L, Williams, Brian E, and Benander, Robert E. Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. United States: N. p., 2010. Web.
Youchison, Dennis L, Williams, Brian E, & Benander, Robert E. Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. United States.
Youchison, Dennis L, Williams, Brian E, and Benander, Robert E. Tue . "Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/978847.
@article{osti_978847,
title = {Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors},
author = {Youchison, Dennis L and Williams, Brian E and Benander, Robert E},
abstractNote = {Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for use in advanced high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR's). Advanced uranium bi-carbide, uranium tri-carbide and uranium carbonitride nuclear fuels can be used. These fuels have high melting temperatures, high thermal conductivity, and high resistance to erosion by hot hydrogen gas. Tri-carbide fuels, such as (U,Zr,Nb)C, can be fabricated using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to simultaneously deposit each of the three separate carbides, e.g., UC, ZrC, and NbC in a single CVI step. By using CVI, a thin coating of nuclear fuel may be deposited inside of a highly porous skeletal structure made, for example, of reticulated vitreous carbon foam.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}