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Title: Processing of surrogate nuclear fuel pellets for better dimensional control with dry bag isostatic pressing

Journal Article · · Journal of Nuclear Materials

A study of improved methods of processing fuel pellets was undertaken using ceria and zirconia/yttria/alumina as surrogates. Through proper granulation and vertical vibration (tapping) of the parts bag prior to dry bag isostatic pressing (DBIP), reproducibility of diameter profiles among multiple pellets of ceria was improved by almost an order of magnitude. Reproducibility of sintered pellets was sufficiently good to possibly avoid grinding. Deviation from the mean diameter along the length of multiple pellets, as well as, deviation from roundness, decreased after sintering. This is not generally observed with dry pressed pellets. Thus it is possible to machine to tolerance before sintering if grinding is necessary.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517
OSTI ID:
1367872
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1396650
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-15-37023; PII: S002231151630229X
Journal Information:
Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 482, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 2 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (10)

Dry bag isostatic pressing for improved green strength of surrogate nuclear fuel pellets journal November 2010
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Flow abilities of powders and granular materials evidenced from dynamical tap density measurement journal February 2013
Effect of particle size distribution on segregation in vibrated systems journal March 2013
Vibration-induced size separation in granular media: The convection connection journal June 1993
All the Brazil nuts are not on top: Vibration induced granular size segregation of binary, ternary and multi-sized mixtures journal January 2011
Reversing the Brazil-Nut Effect: Competition between Percolation and Condensation journal January 2003
Mechanical Properties of Dry-Pressed Powder Compacts: Case Study on Alumina Nanoparticles journal August 2006
Crack Model for Toughness of Green Parts with Moisture or a Fluid Binder journal July 2012

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Fabrication of oxide pellets containing lumped Gd 2 O 3 using Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 for burnable absorber fuel applications journal February 2018

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