PELLETIZED FUEL PRODUCTION LINE FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering; production of fuel pellets for fuel elements of nuclear reactor fuel assemblies.

SUBSTANCE: proposed line is provided with unit controlling pellets for thermal stability incorporating vertical heaters that have at least three segmented heating elements forming internal cylindrical space to receive molybdenum container. Heat shields are installed outside the heater on its sides and top. Container is made of molybdenum spirally twisted in a number of layers and provided with through side slits holding horizontally mounted tungsten rods with limiting ring outside the container. Rods installed inside container carry alternately mounted detachable perforated detachable molybdenum disks spaced apart by means of removable rings whose height exceeds that of pellets. Thermal stability control unit communicates with vacuum system and is provided with argon and hydrogen admission pipes and control means; it has water-cooled cover and walls, as well as argon and hydrogen moisture saturator. Pellets arriving for charging fuel elements show enhanced stability of temperature conditions during their temperature control.

EFFECT: enhanced thermal stability of pellets and service life of container.

1 cl, 4 dwg