Nuclear fuel elements and method of making same
- Bayport, NY
A nuclear fuel element for a high temperature gas nuclear reactor that has an average operating temperature in excess of 2000.degree. C., and a method of making such a fuel element. The fuel element is characterized by having fissionable fuel material localized and stabilized within pores of a carbon or graphite member by melting the fissionable material to cause it to chemically react with the carbon walls of the pores. The fissionable fuel material is further stabilized and localized within the pores of the graphite member by providing one or more coatings of pyrolytic carbon or diamond surrounding the porous graphite member so that each layer defines a successive barrier against migration of the fissionable fuel from the pores, and so that the outermost layer of pyrolytic carbon or diamond forms a barrier between the fissionable material and the moderating gases used in an associated high temperature gas reactor. The method of the invention provides for making such new elements either as generally spherically elements, or as flexible filaments, or as other relatively small-sized fuel elements that are particularly suited for use in high temperature gas reactors.
- Research Organization:
- Associated Universities, Inc., Upton, NY (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- Assignee:
- Associated Universities, Inc. (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5094804
- OSTI ID:
- 868185
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
fuel
elements
method
element
temperature
gas
reactor
average
operating
excess
2000
degree
characterized
fissionable
material
localized
stabilized
pores
carbon
graphite
melting
chemically
react
walls
providing
coatings
pyrolytic
diamond
surrounding
porous
layer
defines
successive
barrier
migration
outermost
forms
moderating
gases
associated
provides
spherically
flexible
filaments
relatively
small-sized
particularly
suited
reactors
chemically react
moderating gases
pyrolytic carbon
temperature gas
particularly suited
fuel material
fuel elements
fuel element
nuclear fuel
nuclear reactor
operating temperature
fissionable material
porous graphite
outermost layer
fissionable fuel
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