METHOD FOR PRODUCING URANIUM AND GADOLINIUM CONTAINING FUEL PELLETS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; production of uranium and gadolinium containing fuel pellets.

SUBSTANCE: non-crushed UO₂, Cd₂O₃(U, Cd)₃O₈ are mixed up. Gadolinium oxide in the amount of 2-9 mass percent by gadolinium content is introduced. Mixing is effected in single step within mixer of any type for 60 - 80 min. Then mixture is homogenized in vortex-bed apparatus for 2 - 10 min in batches of 2 kg by sum of oxides at following mass proportion of magnetic body, such as needle: material being treated, 1-1.25 : 10. Powdered charges are obtained by averaging several batches of homogenized mixtures. Charges are conveyed for producing molding powder. For recovering wastes of uranium and gadolinium containing fuel pellets, wastes of molded and sintered pellets are oxidized to gadolinium containing uranium oxide monoxide (U, Cd)₃O₈ at temperature of 600±20⁰C for 2 h in air atmosphere.

EFFECT: enhanced degree of solid solution formation; reduced amount of stored wastes.

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