Nuclear fuel element

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:867748

Zocher, Roy W ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A nuclear fuel element and a method of manufacturing the element. The fuel element is comprised of a metal primary container and a fuel pellet which is located inside it and which is often fragmented. The primary container is subjected to elevated pressure and temperature to deform the container such that the container conforms to the fuel pellet, that is, such that the container is in substantial contact with the surface of the pellet. This conformance eliminates clearances which permit rubbing together of fuel pellet fragments and rubbing of fuel pellet fragments against the container, thus reducing the amount of dust inside the fuel container and the amount of dust which may escape in the event of container breach. Also, as a result of the inventive method, fuel pellet fragments tend to adhere to one another to form a coherent non-fragmented mass; this reduces the tendency of a fragment to pierce the container in the event of impact.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States fo America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5002723
• OSTI ID: 867748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
fuel
element
method
manufacturing
comprised
metal
primary
container
pellet
located
inside
fragmented
subjected
elevated
pressure
temperature
deform
conforms
substantial
contact
surface
conformance
eliminates
clearances
permit
rubbing
fragments
reducing
amount
dust
escape
event
breach
result
inventive
tend
adhere
form
coherent
non-fragmented
mass
reduces
tendency
fragment
pierce
impact
fuel pellet
located inside
fragmented mass
fuel element
nuclear fuel
elevated pressure
inventive method
substantial contact
fuel container
primary container
/376/29/264/420/976/