Method and apparatus for controlled size distribution of gel microspheres formed from aqueous dispersions

Patent · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:865085

Ryon, Allen D ^[1]; Haas, Paul A ^[2]; Vavruska, John S ^[3]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN
2. Knoxville, TN
3. Santa Fe, NM

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for making a population of dense, closely size-controlled microspheres by sol-gel procedures wherein said microspheres are characterized by a significant percentage of said population being within a predetermined, relatively narrow size range. Microsphere populations thus provided are useful in vibratory-packed processes for nuclear fuels to be irradiated in LWR- and FBR-type nuclear reactors.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4459245
• OSTI ID: 865085
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/264/252/
apparatus
aqueous
characterized
closely
controlled
controlled size
dense
directed
dispersions
distribution
fbr-type
formed
fuels
irradiated
lwr-
method
microsphere
microspheres
narrow
narrow size
nuclear
nuclear fuel
nuclear fuels
nuclear reactor
nuclear reactors
percentage
population
populations
predetermined
procedures
processes
provided
range
reactors
relatively
relatively narrow
significant
size
size distribution
size range
size-controlled
sol-gel
sol-gel procedure
type nuclear
useful
vibratory-packed