METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR WET GRINDING OF FUEL PELLETS Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear engineering; production of nuclear fuel. SUBSTANCE: method includes use of centerless grinding machine for pellet treatment with lubricating and cooling fluid fed to grinding area where fuel pellets are loosely arranged. Distilled water used for the purpose is tangentially passed to grinding wheel between fuel pellet to be ground and grinding wheel in the form of finely dispersed spray. Speed of fuel pellet feed to grinding area and that of ground pellet extraction are coordinated. Then lubricating and cooling fluid is reconditioned and returned to process starting end for finishing and washing ground pellets. Grinding installation has centerless grinding machine with charging and discharging units, ground pellet washing unit, drying unit, fluid reconditioning system, and instrumentation inspection system. Grinding- machine charging unit is provided with automatic device for rolling over troughs holding sintered fuel pellets into bin incorporating vibrating duct for passing fuel pellets and shaking feeder. Unit for feeding fluid to grinding area is made in the form of sprayer whose axis is tangential to grinding wheel and to pellet being ground and perpendicular to their radii. Fluid reconditioning system is, essentially, closed loop including at least three settling bowls, pressure tank, and reconditioned-fluid return pumps communicating with sprayers for wetting the grinding wheel and washing the ground fuel pellets. All components of installation compose integrated process system for conveying, grinding, and inspecting fuel pellets capacities of all pieces of equipment incorporated in system being coordinated. EFFECT: enhanced quality of finished fuel pellets and increased yield. 7 cl, 3 dwg