Compact Process Development at Babcock & Wilcox

Eric Shaber ; Jeffrey Phillips

关键词: COMPACTING;    MILLING;    NATURAL URANIUM;    NUCLEAR FUELS;    OXYCARBIDES;    PRODUCTION;    TESTING NGNP + TDO + VHTR + R&D + Fuel + AGR-1 + AG;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1042352
RP-ID  :  INL/EXT-11-23166
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1042352
Others  :  TRN: US1202846

学科分类：核能源与工程

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

Multiple process approaches have been used historically to manufacture cylindrical nuclear fuel compacts. Scale-up of fuel compacting was required for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) project to achieve an economically viable automated production process capable of providing a minimum of 10 compacts/minute with high production yields. In addition, the scale-up effort was required to achieve matrix density equivalent to baseline historical production processes, and allow compacting at fuel packing fractions up to 46% by volume. The scale-up approach of jet milling, fluid-bed overcoating, and hot-press compacting adopted in the U.S. Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) Fuel Development Program involves significant paradigm shifts to capitalize on distinct advantages in simplicity, yield, and elimination of mixed waste. A series of compaction trials have been completed to optimize compaction conditions of time, temperature, and forming pressure using natural uranium oxycarbide (NUCO) fuel at packing fractions exceeding 46% by volume. Results from these trials are included. The scale-up effort is nearing completion with the process installed and operable using nuclear fuel materials. Final process testing is in progress to certify the process for manufacture of qualification test fuel compacts in 2012.