Preparation of nuclear fuel spheres by flotation-internal gelation

Patent · Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5401913

Haas, P A; Fowler, V L; Lloyd, M H

A simplified internal gelation process is claimed for the preparation of gel spheres of nuclear fuels. The process utilizes perchloroethylene as a gelation medium. Gelation is accomplished by directing droplets of a nuclear fuel broth into a moving volume of hot perchloroethylene (about 85/sup 0/C) in a trough. Gelation takes place as the droplets float on the surface of the perchloroethylene and the resultant gel spheres are carried directly into an ager column which is attached to the trough. The aged spheres are disengaged from the perchloroethylene on a moving screen and are deposited in an aqueous wash column. 3 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Application Number: ON: DE85017739
• OSTI ID: 5401913
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
FUEL SPHERES
NUCLEAR FUELS
SOL-GEL PROCESS
REAGENTS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FABRICATION
FLOTATION
GELATION
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MICROSPHERES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
URANIUM OXIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
360201 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Preparation & Fabrication