NEW REMOTE FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT AT THE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY FOR FABRICATION OF FUEL RODS BEARING URANIUM-233 AND THORIUM OXIDE

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Proc. Conf. Hot Lab. Equip.

OSTI ID:4158021

Sease, J D; Lotts, A L; Davis, F C

A fabrication facility and its related process equipment required to fabricate fuel rods containing U/sup 233/-thorium oxide by the bulk oxide- vibratory compaction route was constructed and operation is beginning at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The facility was specifically designed to fsbricate 1/ 2-in.-dia x 46-in.-long Zircaloy-2 clad fuel rods; however, the configuration of the permanent alphatight cubicles, which are shielded with 4 1/2-in. steel, allows sufficient flexibility to accommodate a variety of development work on a pilot-plant scale. The fabrication process is carried out remotely in these cubicles, with the exception of several gloved hand operations which occur where the dexterity required for manipulation exceeds that of the remote castle-type tongs. The fabrication equipment includes the powder-conditioning equipment, the vibratory compactor, the end-cap welding unit, and the gamma absorptiometer for density scanning. The facility was operated successfully during initial runs using depleted uranium as a substitute for U/sup 233/. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-18-000589
• OSTI ID: 4158021
• Journal Information: Proc. Conf. Hot Lab. Equip., Journal Name: Proc. Conf. Hot Lab. Equip. Vol. Vol: 11th
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
COMPACTING
DENSITY
FABRICATION
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAMMA RADIATION
INSPECTION
MEASURED VALUES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MOCKUP
POWDERS
REMOTE HANDLING
RODS
SHIELDING
STEELS
TESTING
THORIUM OXIDES
URANIUM 233
VIBRATIONS
ZIRCALOY