SPRAY DRYING-ASSISTED TREATMENT OF URANIUM DIOXIDE CAST POWDER PREPARED WITH THE AID OF UF DRY TRANSFORMATION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention aims obtaining uranium dioxide powder with physicochemical properties suitable for preparation of mixed uranium and plutonium oxide nuclear fuel used in light-water nuclear reactors. Method comprises dry-process preparation of aqueous suspension of UO₂ powder from uranium hexafluoride. This suspension contains 50-80% UO₂ and at least one additive selected from deflocculant (ammonium polymethacrylate), organic binders (polyvinyl alcohol or polyethylene glycol), H₂O₂, and U₃O₈ powder. Amount of additives is such that viscosity of suspension does not exceed 250 mPa.s. Suspension is pulverized in hot gas at 150 to 300 C to give UO₂ powder with average particle size 20 to 100 mcm, pulverization being performed with the aid of ultrasonic spray nozzle, turbine, or pressurized nozzle. EFFECT: optimized uranium dioxide preparation conditions. 15 cl, 1 dwg, 5 ex