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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF UO$sub 2$ FUEL SYSTEMS FOR WATER REACTOR APPLICATIONS. Quarterly Report, July-September 1961

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4838839
A series of fuel rods was vibratory compacted to 90% of theoretical density to study longitudinal density variations. Densities obtained from three- in. sections showed a decline in fuel density in the sections immediately adjacent to the end plugs. Improved loading and pre-densification techniques have reduced the total density variation to about plus or minus 1.5%. Fuel rods prepared by a combined vibratory compaction-swaging process reached theoretical densities in the range of 92 to 93% with a minimum of dimensional and density variation and excellent reproducibility. No indications of micro- or macro-cracking were found in metallographic sections of the stainless steel clad. This process appears useful for the fabrication of fuel rods when the density requirement exceeds 92% of theoretical. In addition, a combination of vibratory compaction and swaging may provide a more economical method of achieving densities in the range of 88 to 92% of theoretical. The projection welding program for fabricating fuel rod clusters will be reactivated during the month of November 1961, with the ultimate objective of fabricating a seven-foot long, 61- rod, hexagonal cluster by next June. Time-temperature annealing tests indicate that work hardened, type 347, stainless steel tubing will retain its strength properties for at least ten years at 750 deg F. Collapse testing was initiated to determine the actual critical external pressures which will lead to tube wall collapse on thin walled, work hardened cladding. (auth)
Research Organization:
Combustion Engineering, Inc. Nuclear Div., Windsor, Conn.
NSA Number:
NSA-16-020951
OSTI ID:
4838839
Report Number(s):
CEND-149; EURAEC-208
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English