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Preparation of transuranium fuel and target materials for the transmutation of actinides by gel coconversion

Journal Article · · Nuclear Technology
OSTI ID:248111
; ; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Paul Scherrer Inst., Villigen (Switzerland)
  2. Commissariat a l`Energie Atomique Centre de Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (France)
In the fabrication of fuel containing transuranium (TRU) elements, flow sheets and techniques that allow a shielded and/or remote fabrication will probably need to be applied. One approach, which has been demonstrated on the laboratory and semiprototype scale, is the wet fabrication route of coprecipitation of the matrix element uranium mixed with plutonium to form either dense spherical particles or to produce hybrid pellets made from pressed gel microspheres. The ceramic material produced holds the TRU elements homogeneously distributed in the matrix. In conjunction with the Department d`Etudes des Combustibles of the French Commissariat a l`Energie Atomique in Cadarache, France, the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland is further developing a mixed nitride ceramic and mixed oxide with high concentrations (up to 50%) of plutonium with the aim of a joint irradiation test of TRU elements in the French Phenix reactor.
OSTI ID:
248111
Journal Information:
Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 114; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English