Assessment of gel-sphere-pac fuel for fast breeder reactors
- comps.
An assessment of the state of the art for the gel-sphere-pac process was undertaken to provide a sound basis for further development of the technology. Information is provided on sol preparation, sphere forming, drying, sintering, characterization, loading, fuel rod inspection, and irradiation performance. In addition, discussions are included on: evaluation of the potential for scale-up to production capacities, potential problems associated with remote operation, and future work required to further develop the technology. Three techniques are available for microsphere production: (1) internal gelation, (2) external gelation, and (3) gelation by water extraction. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages; for example, internal gelation appears better suited to the preparation of large spheres than the other processes. Numerous advantages and disadvantages are discussed in detail. Scale-up or remote operation of these techniques appears achievable, although some would require less development than others. Techniques have been developed for drying and sintering spheres. Extensive technology has been developed for sphere characterization, handling, and the loading and inspection of fuel pins. Data available to date indicates that sphere-pac oxide fuel will perform similarly to pellet oxide fuels under fast breeder reactor operating conditions. Gel-sphere-pac technology also appears attractive for carbide fuels.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6570713
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-5468
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDER REACTORS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FABRICATION
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
FUEL SPHERES
FUELS
GELATION
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REMOTE HANDLING
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TESTING
THORIUM
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM OXIDES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM 233
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM OXIDES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES