Development of processes and equipment for the refabrication of HTGR fuels

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7362006· OSTI ID:7362006

Sease, J. D.; Lotts, A. L.

Refabrication is in the step in the HTGR thorium fuel cycle that begins with a nitrate solution containing /sup 238/U and culminates in the assembly of this material into fuel elements for use in an HTGR. Refabrication of HTGR fuel is essentially a manufacturing operation and consists of preparation of fuel kernels, application of multiple layers of pyrolytic carbon and SiC, preparation of fuel rods, and assembly of fuel rods in fuel elements. All the equipment for refabrication of /sup 238/U-containing fuel must be designed for completely remote operation and maintenance in hot cell facilities. This paper describes the status of processes and equipment development for the remote refabrication of HTGR fuels. The feasibility of HTGR refabrication processes has been proven by laboratory development. Engineering-scale development is now being performed on a unit basis on the majority of the major equipment items. Engineering-scale equipment described includes full-scale resin loading equipment, a 5-in.-dia (0.13-m) microsphere coating furnace, a fuel rod forming machine, and a cure-in-place furnace.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7362006
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-5334
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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