APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASONIC ENERGY. ULTRASONIC FILLING OF TUBULAR CLADDING WITH CERAMIC FUEL POWDERS

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4809058

Tarpley, W B; Pheasant, R

Direct cold compaction of powdered fuels within cladding materials offers many economies in fuel element fabricatson, particularly with reprocessed and enriched fuels. Ultrasonic vibratory filllng of cladding tubes under low restraining pressures (well below one ton per square inch) was explored and found to be superior to both low frequency vibratory compaction and cold pressing, as well as to have certain advantages over the sintered pellet process. Three points of uitrasonic application were studied: axial coupling to bottom of fuel tube, flexural coupling to side of tube, and axial activation of restraining load. Using combinations of these, the following materials were compacted to the indicated percentages of theoretical densityn urania (fused, ground, sized) 92%; urania (ceramic grade) 67%; thoria (ORNL process, sized, blended) 92%; and alumina (ceramic grade) 63%. Still higher densities appeared possible with ceramic grades, through investigation to optimize interaction between material properties and points of ultrasonic application. The ultrasonic technique, which permits easy isolation of the activated tubes, is particularly adaptable to reprocessed and enriched fuel powders which may require use of glove boxes or shielding. Powders of widely different density remain essentially homogeneous. No deformation of cladding was observed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Aeroprojects, Inc., West Chester, Penna.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-011152
• OSTI ID: 4809058
• Report Number(s): NYO-9587
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
CANNING
CERAMICS
COLD WORKING
COMPACTING
CONTAMINATION
DEFORMATION
DENSITY
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENRICHMENT
FABRICATION
FAILURES
FREQUENCY
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
GRAIN SIZE
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLURGY
PELLETS
POWDERS
PRESSURE
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
REMOTE HANDLING
REPROCESSING
SHIELDING
SINTERING
THORIUM
TUBES
ULTRASONICS
URANIUM
VIBRATIONS