METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING URANIUM-GADOLINIUM NUCLEAR FUEL Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC G21C3/00 G21C3/62 C01G43/00 

FIELD: nuclear industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the technology of manufacturing ceramic nuclear fuel for fuel elements (fuel rods) of nuclear power plants. The method for producing uranium-gadolinium nuclear fuel includes preparing the initial uranium dioxide powder, mixing it with uranium oxide powder and gadolinium oxide, granulating the powder mixture, mixing the granulate with a solid lubricant and a blowing agent, pressing the press powder, sintering the resulting pellets and grinding the pellets. Sintering is carried out at atmospheric humidity at the preheating stage from 8500 to 34000 ppm, at the high-temperature holding stage from 9200 to 35000 ppm, at the cooling stage from 5100 to 6000 ppm.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible to reduce the hydrogen content in uranium-gadolinium fuel pellets, as well as to stabilize the density and sintering properties, which contributes to the safe operation of the fuel in the reactor.

2 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl