METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR MANUFACTURING PELLETIZED FUEL FROM URANIUM DIOXIDE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: manufacture of sintered pellets for nuclear reactors. SUBSTANCE: in the course of producing uranium dioxide powder ammonium polyuranate is continuously precipitated in two stages from nitric acid solution of uranyl nitrate while maintaining pH between 6.6 and 7.2 during first stage and between 8.0 and 8.4 during second stage at precipitation rate of 12 to 25 mm/min. Equipment used for the purpose has three-stage precipitating reactor and reactor furnaces with loosely mounted screw displacer used for displacing uranium monoxide-oxide and uranium dioxide from furnace. Proposed method provides for direct compression of uranium dioxide powder without pre-treatment, reduced pellet manufacturing process cycle due to reduced number of granule compression and crushing operations, processing of various kinds of uranium-containing materials within single process cycle using same equipment. EFFECT: reduced dust escape, facilitated procedure. 22 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl