METHOD FOR PRODUCING NUCLEAR FUEL PELLETS PRIMARILY FOR FAST REACTORS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; production of nuclear fuel for fast-reactor blanket from reconditioned fuel discharged from water-cooled reactors. SUBSTANCE: method includes mixing of source powder with plasticizer; compression of mixture; crushing of granulated material obtained followed by sizing to produce molding powder; compression of molding powder in die to obtain source pellets; sintering of pellets. Reconditioned nuclear fuel having grain size of 57 to 63 mcm is used as source powder. Mixture is compacted at pressure of 1.5 to 2.5 t/sq. cm. Sizing is effected by means of shaking sieve with gauze mesh size not to exceed 0.63 mm. Molding powder is compressed at pressure of 3.0 to 4.0 t/sq. cm in die whose taper angle is 6-15 deg. EFFECT: enlarged range of source powders used, ability of producing nuclear fuel of desired density. 5 cl, 4 ex