PELLET OF NUCLEAR URANIUM-ERBIUM CERAMIC FUEL Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC G21C3/62 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: pellet of nuclear uranium-erbium ceramic fuel includes compressed and caked uranium dioxide (UO₂) powder. Pellet contains erbium mixed with uranium dioxide (UO₂) powder in the form of nitrate solution soluble in uranium dioxide (UO₂) and taken in the amount of 0.36 to 0.64 wt % of erbium, together with additive of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) powder and powder of one of the following oxides: TiO₂, Nb₂O₅, SiO₂, CaO, MgO, or the only additive of mineral alumosilicates: kaolin, metakaolin, halloysite, montmorillonite, vermiculite. Pellet includes additives in amount of 0.0020÷0.10 wt % of each element relative of uranium in the ratio: 40÷85% Al for aluminum oxide, the rest is oxide-forming element of the given oxide series. Depending on selected oxide or mineral alumosilicate additive type from the given series, pellet grain size comprises 25÷50 mcm. Pellet density comprises 10.0 to 10.8 g/cm, thermal size stability preservation is within 0.1÷0.3%. Erbium in the form of nitrate solution is homogenously distributed over the pellet volume without insoluble erbium oxide particles.

EFFECT: enhanced efficiency.

4 cl, 4 ex