Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Richland, WA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- WESTINGHOUSE HANFORD CO
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866114
- Patent Number(s):
- 4637900
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76FF02170
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 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/
Citation Formats
Frederickson, James R. Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Frederickson, James R. Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets. United States.
Frederickson, James R. Thu .
"Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866114.
@article{osti_866114,
title = {Fabrication of high exposure nuclear fuel pellets},
author = {Frederickson, James R},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}