METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OF CERMET ROD OF FUEL CORE IN FUEL ELEMENT OF NUCLEAR REACTOR Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC G21C3/00 

FIELD: fuel systems.

SUBSTANCE: method is suggested for manufacturing of cermet rod of fuel element core. Certain amount of nuclear fuel and matrix material is filled into pipe made of zirconium alloy. Pipe is closed on both sides with cylindrical plugs, at end surfaces of which there are caps made of zirconium alloy layer of paste from metal oxide powder, for instance, aluminium oxide powder, previously applied onto their internal surfaces. Assembly is exposed to hot hydrostatic pressing, pipe is cut to open layer of metal oxide, pipe ends are removed together with plugs. Dimensional mechanical processing of pressed assembly cylindrical surface is carried out to obtain rated size of rod. Suggested method differs from available methods by the fact that prior to pressing operation assembly is exposed to pressing in medium of inertial gas under conditions of pipe material creep. At the same time fuel particles do not penetrate pipe wall, as a result of which variation of pipe diametre required in pressing is reduced.

EFFECT: higher yield of good rods with their further mechanical processing and reduction of technological equipment contamination.

1 cl