Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866114

Frederickson, James R ^[1]

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1. Richland, WA

A method is disclosed for making a fuel pellet for a nuclear reactor. A mixture is prepared of PuO.sub.2 and UO.sub.2 powders, where the mixture contains at least about 30% PuO.sub.2, and where at least about 12% of the Pu is the Pu.sup.240 isotope. To this mixture is added about 0.3 to about 5% of a binder having a melting point of at least about 250.degree. F. The mixture is pressed to form a slug and the slug is granulated. Up to about 4.7% of a lubricant having a melting point of at least about 330.degree. F. is added to the granulated slug. Both the binder and the lubricant are selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl carboxylate, polyvinyl alcohol, naturally occurring high molecular weight cellulosic polymers, chemically modified high molecular weight cellulosic polymers, and mixtures thereof. The mixture is pressed to form a pellet and the pellet is sintered.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76FF02170
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4637900
• OSTI ID: 866114
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fabrication
exposure
nuclear
fuel
pellets
method
disclosed
pellet
reactor
mixture
prepared
puo
uo
powders
contains
30
12
240
isotope
added
binder
melting
250
degree
pressed
form
slug
granulated
lubricant
330
selected
consisting
polyvinyl
carboxylate
alcohol
naturally
occurring
molecular
weight
cellulosic
polymers
chemically
modified
mixtures
sintered
polyvinyl alcohol
fuel pellet
naturally occurring
fuel pellets
nuclear fuel
nuclear reactor
molecular weight
chemically modified
mixture contains
vinyl alcohol
/252/75/264/376/419/976/