High density UO2 and high thermal conductivity UO2 composites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)

Subhash, Ghatu; Baney, Ronald Howard; Tulenko, James S.; McKenna, III, Edward; Ge, Lihao; Yeo, Sunghwan

High density UO2 and high thermal conductivity UO2 composites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)

Patent · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2022

OSTI ID:1924973

Subhash, Ghatu; Baney, Ronald Howard; Tulenko, James S.; McKenna, III, Edward; Ge, Lihao; Yeo, Sunghwan

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UO₂ and a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.

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Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

Assignee:: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (Gainesville, FL)

Patent Number(s):: 11,410,782

Application Number:: 16/996,715

OSTI ID:: 1924973

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (14)

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Enhanced thermal conductivity of uranium dioxide–silicon carbide composite fuel pellets prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Yeo, S.; Mckenna, E.; Baney, R. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 433, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2012.09.015	journal	February 2013
Densification of uranium dioxide fuel pellets prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) Ge, Lihao; Subhash, Ghatu; Baney, Ronald H. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 435, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2012.12.010	journal	April 2013
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