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Method of making fuel and fertile elements for nuclear-reactor cores

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4032336

A method of making fissionable-fuel or fertile elements for the core of a nuclear reactor, especially a reactor of the gas-cooled type, is described. The fuel or fertile material is introduced into graphite shells in the form of coated particles and a pyrolytically decomposable carbon-containing or silane gas is passed upwardly through the shell while the mass therein is heated by displacing an induction-furnace core downwardly around the graphite shell thereby bonding the coated particles together with pyrolytic carbon, silicon carbide or zirconium carbide formed in situ to yield a coherent mass with a porosity of, say, 10 to 25 percent. The gas is preferably a mixture of one or more inert gases (nitrogen, argon or helium) with one or more hydrocarbons or carbon- containing gases, e.g., methane, acetylene, benzene, or silanes. (Official Gazette)

Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-33-025304
Assignee:
to Kernforschungsanlage, Juelich, Ger.
Patent Number(s):
US 3907948
OSTI ID:
4032336
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English