FABRICATION OF FUEL RODS BY TANDEM ROLLING

Technical Report · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4809407

Lingafelter, J W

The tandem rolling process used industrially to manufacture tubular resistance heating elements was investigated to determine its applicability for fabricating rod-type fuel elements. Approximately 90 stainless steel clad fuel rods containing natural UO/sub 2/ were tandem-rolled to establish optimum rolling parameters and fuel rod design. Fuel rod diameter, cladding wall thickness, UO/ sub 2/ particle size, rolling speed, and rolling reduction were investigated to determine their effect on UO/sub 2/ compacted density, fuel rod clad integrity, and fuel rod quality. From this work, optimum rolling conditions were selected, and 26 fuel rods containing 3.5% enriched UO/sub 2/ clad in 0.015-in. stainless steel were rolled for the purpose of producing fuel rods for irradiation testing. The enriched fuel rods were successfully rolled to an average UO/sub 2/ density of 89%, a final diameter of 0.400 inch, and a length of 38 inches. Twentyone of the enriched fuel rods were assembled into a 25-rod fuel assembly and inserted into the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor core during June, 1961. The tandem- rolling process was successfully adapted to fabricate stainless steel clad, UO/ sub 2/-filled fuel rods. The process can produce 90% dense quality fuel rods on a production basis with essentially no change from the way it is used for commercial applications. A fuel rod as-rolled capacity of 350,000 feet per month per machine was demonstrated. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Atomic Power Equipment Dept., San Jose, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-010481
• OSTI ID: 4809407
• Report Number(s): GEAP-3775
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BOILING
COMPACTING
DENSITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
FABRICATION
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GRAIN SIZE
HEATING
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
REACTORS
RESISTORS
RODS
ROLLING
STAINLESS STEELS
TESTING
THICKNESS
TUBES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
VBWR
VELOCITY
WATER COOLANT