Development of nuclear fuel microsphere handling techniques and equipment

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5819023· OSTI ID:5819023

Mack, J. E.; Suchomel, R. R.; Angelini, P.

Considerable progress has been made in the development of microsphere handling techniques and equipment for nuclear applications. Work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with microspherical fuel forms dates back to the early sixties with the development of the sol-gel process. Since that time a number of equipment items and systems specifically related to microsphere handling and characterization have been identified and developed for eventual application in a remote recycle facility. These include positive and negative pressure transfer systems, samplers, weighers, a blender-dispenser, and automated devices for particle size distribution and crushing strength analysis. The current status of these and other components and systems is discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5819023
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7143
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
MICROSPHERES
MATERIALS HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
URANIUM OXIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
050400 - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing