Manufacture of large grain size of Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets adding Al(OH){sub 3}

Conference · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016

OSTI ID:22764095

Xiang, Li; Jianxiong, Dai; Haitao, Li ^[1]

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1. CNNC Jianzhong Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd Yibin, SiChuan, 644000 (China)

In order to improve the utilization of nuclear fuel, reduce the cost of fuel cycle and improve the economics and flexibility of nuclear power plant in the latest light-water reactors, designers usually adopt the operation strategy of high burnup, long cycle, low leakage, such as using burnable poison fuel in nuclear reactors. So the Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets is widely used as burnable poison fuel. Pellets is harmful for the running of nuclear reactor if the grain size is too large or too small. Generally, the grain size of Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets can be called big grain pellets if the grain size is larger than 10 μm. In order to get big grain Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets, researcher usually adopt grain growth agent to increase the grain size of pellets, this article research the rule of density, pore and grain size of Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets by adding Al(OH){sub 3}. Al(OH){sub 3} breaks down Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and H{sub 2}O which can increase the spread of the cation in the lattice, which cause the growth of grain in Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-UO{sub 2} pellets. Besides, it also determines the process route of average grain size of more than 10 μm in pellets.

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 22764095
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BURNABLE POISONS
BURNUP
CATIONS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL PELLETS
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
GRAIN GROWTH
GRAIN SIZE
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR DESIGN
URANIUM DIOXIDE
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS