JPH06194480A - Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet - Google Patents

Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet

Info

Publication number
JPH06194480A
JPH06194480A JP4344285A JP34428592A JPH06194480A JP H06194480 A JPH06194480 A JP H06194480A JP 4344285 A JP4344285 A JP 4344285A JP 34428592 A JP34428592 A JP 34428592A JP H06194480 A JPH06194480 A JP H06194480A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
sintering
nuclear fuel
powder
crystal grain
pellets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP4344285A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Ryoichi Yuda
良一 油田
Hiroshi Masuda
宏 増田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co Ltd filed Critical Nippon Nuclear Fuel Development Co Ltd
Priority to JP4344285A priority Critical patent/JPH06194480A/en
Publication of JPH06194480A publication Critical patent/JPH06194480A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30Nuclear fission reactors

Landscapes

  • Compositions Of Oxide Ceramics (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enlarge crystal grain diameters of nuclear fuel pellets for preventing increase of a releasing rate of fission production gas caused by high burnup of nuclear fuel, the increase of bubble swelling, enlargement of mechanical correlation between the pellets and a coated tube and the increase of inner pressure in a fuel rod. CONSTITUTION:UO2 powder or UO2-Gd2O3 mixed powder of two or more kinds different in sintering characteristics is pressurized and molded, and nuclear fuel pellets in an average crystal grain diameter of about 20-60mum and a degree of porosity of 4% or less can be manufactured by sintering it. In addition, Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2 are added therto as a liquid phase sintering assistant agent and furthermore effect can be heightened by means of these precursor substances.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【0001】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明は、結晶粒径が大きく核分
裂生成(FP)ガスの放出率およびスエリング量が小さ
いUO2 燃料ペレットの製造方法に関する。
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing UO 2 fuel pellets having a large crystal grain size and a small fission product (FP) gas release rate and a small swelling amount.

【0002】[0002]

【従来の技術】軽水炉あるいは高速増殖炉に装荷される
核燃料ペレットは、発電炉において経験された最も高い
燃焼度までその健全性が確認されている。しかし、現在
計画されている燃料の高燃焼度化に伴って、結晶粒界に
生成した核分裂生成(FP)ガスにより気泡スエリング
が増加し、それに伴ってペレットと被覆管の機械的相互
作用(PCI)の増大、燃料からのFPガス放出による
燃料棒内の内圧上昇が起こり、燃料の健全性が失われる
可能性がある。このため、FPガスの放出率および気泡
スエリングが小さくなるように改良されたペレットが望
まれている。
2. Description of the Related Art Nuclear fuel pellets loaded in a light water reactor or a fast breeder reactor have been confirmed to be as healthy as the highest burnup experienced in a power reactor. However, with the high burnup of fuel currently planned, bubble swelling increases due to fission product (FP) gas generated at the grain boundary, and mechanical interaction (PCI) between the pellet and the cladding tube increases accordingly. ), The internal pressure in the fuel rod rises due to the release of FP gas from the fuel, and the integrity of the fuel may be lost. For this reason, pellets improved to reduce the release rate of FP gas and bubble swelling are desired.

【0003】酸化物燃料ペレットからのFPガス放出率
および気泡スエリングはペレット結晶粒内におけるFP
ガスの拡散に律速されるので、ペレットの結晶粒径を大
きくしFPガスの拡散距離を大きくすることでFPガス
の放出率および気泡スエリングを小さくすることが可能
である。そこで、従来次のような核燃料ペレットおよび
その製造方法が提案されている。
The FP gas release rate and bubble swelling from oxide fuel pellets are determined by the FP in the pellet crystal grains.
Since the rate is controlled by the diffusion of gas, it is possible to reduce the release rate of FP gas and bubble swelling by increasing the crystal grain size of the pellet and increasing the diffusion distance of FP gas. Therefore, conventionally, the following nuclear fuel pellets and methods for producing the same have been proposed.

【0004】Nb2 5 あるいはTiO2 を加えて結晶
粒径が大きい酸化物燃料を製造する方法(特開昭59-220
677 号)、酸化性雰囲気で焼結して結晶粒径が大きい酸
化物燃料を製造する方法(特開昭56-48582号)、マトリ
クスを構成する粉末に、その粉末の平均粒子径よりも大
きな単結晶を粒成長の核として0.1〜25wt%添加
して結晶粒径が大きい酸化物燃料を製造する方法(UK P
atent Application GB2177249A)、アルミニウム酸化物
とケイ素酸化物からなる焼結剤を添加して結晶粒径が大
きい酸化物燃料を製造する方法(特開平1-193691号、特
開平2-242195号、特開平3-146895号)が提案されてい
る。
A method for producing an oxide fuel having a large crystal grain size by adding Nb 2 O 5 or TiO 2 (JP-A-59-220).
677), a method for producing an oxide fuel having a large crystal grain size by sintering in an oxidizing atmosphere (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-48582), the powder constituting the matrix has a larger average particle size than that of the powder. A method for producing an oxide fuel having a large crystal grain size by adding 0.1 to 25 wt% of a single crystal as a nucleus of grain growth (UK P
atent Application GB2177249A), a method for producing an oxide fuel having a large crystal grain size by adding a sintering agent composed of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide (JP-A-1-93691, JP-A-2-242195, JP-A-2-242195). 3-146895) has been proposed.

【0005】[0005]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、Nb2
5 あるいはTiO2 を加える方法(特開昭59-220677
号)によると、結晶粒径は大きくなるが、ペレットのマ
トリクス内でのFPガスの拡散係数も大きくなるという
欠点がある。また、酸化性雰囲気で焼結する方法(特開
昭56-48582号)では、現状の還元性雰囲気に適した焼結
炉を改造する必要があり経済性が悪い。また、単結晶を
粒成長の核として0.1〜25wt%添加する方法(UK
Patent Application GB2177249A)では、その単結晶を
得るために予めUO2 ペレットを高温で加熱する必要が
あり、工程が複雑になるうえにコストが上がる。
However, Nb 2
A method of adding O 5 or TiO 2 (JP-A-59-220677)
No.), the crystal grain size is large, but there is a drawback that the diffusion coefficient of FP gas in the matrix of the pellet is also large. Further, in the method of sintering in an oxidizing atmosphere (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-48582), it is necessary to modify a sintering furnace suitable for the current reducing atmosphere, which is not economical. Moreover, a method of adding 0.1 to 25 wt% of a single crystal as a nucleus of grain growth (UK
In Patent Application GB2177249A), it is necessary to heat UO 2 pellets at a high temperature in advance in order to obtain the single crystal, which complicates the process and increases the cost.

【0006】一方、特開平1-193691号、特開平2-242195
号に記されたアルミニウム酸化物とケイ素酸化物からな
る焼結剤を添加する方法では、その添加量が多いため
に、UO2 −Gd2 3 ペレットを弱酸化性雰囲気下で
焼結する場合、ペレット内に気孔(おそらくはケイ素酸
化物の蒸発による)を生成し、ペレットの焼結密度が大
きくならないことが分った。さらに、特開平3-146895号
の方法では、Al2 3の方がSiO2 よりも添加量が
多くAl2 3 ,SiO2 を1μm以下の超微粉末にす
る必要がある。本発明はかかる問題に対処してなされた
もので、結晶粒径が大きい核燃料ペレットを簡単な工程
で製造する方法を提供することを目的とする。
On the other hand, JP-A 1-193691 and JP-A 2-242195
In the method of adding a sintering agent composed of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide, which is described in Japanese Patent No. 3, in the case of sintering UO 2 -Gd 2 O 3 pellets in a weakly oxidizing atmosphere, the addition amount is large. It was found that porosity (probably due to evaporation of silicon oxide) was generated in the pellet and the sintered density of the pellet was not increased. Furthermore, in JP-A 3-146895 Patent manner, it is necessary to better of Al 2 O 3 is to add a large amount Al 2 O 3, a SiO 2 below 1μm ultrafine powder than SiO 2. The present invention has been made to address such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a method for producing a nuclear fuel pellet having a large crystal grain size by a simple process.

【0007】[0007]

【課題を解決するための手段】上記目的は、焼結特性の
異なる2種類以上のUO2 粉末あるいはUO2 −Gd2
3 混合粉末を圧粉成形し、これを焼結することによっ
て達成される。この方法によれば平均結晶粒径が約20
〜60μmの範囲に有り、かつ約4vol%以下の気孔
率を有する核燃料ペレットを得ることができる。また、
この方法において、さらにAl2 3 ,SiO2 または
TiO2 (その前駆物質を含む)を1種もしくは2種以
上液相焼結助剤として添加することにより、より効果を
上げることができる。
The above object is to provide two or more kinds of UO 2 powder or UO 2 -Gd 2 having different sintering characteristics.
This is achieved by compacting the O 3 mixed powder and sintering it. According to this method, the average crystal grain size is about 20.
It is possible to obtain a nuclear fuel pellet having a porosity in the range of ˜60 μm and not more than about 4 vol%. Also,
In this method, the effect can be further improved by further adding one or more kinds of Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 or TiO 2 (including the precursor thereof) as a liquid phase sintering aid.

【0008】[0008]

【作用】本発明の製造方法に従ってペレットを製造する
と、上記粉末の焼結特性の差によって、焼結途中で焼結
進行程度が局所的に異なる広い粒度分布を有することに
なる。すなわち、焼結性の高い粉末で構成された部分の
方が焼結が進み、焼結性の低い粉末で構成された部分よ
りも結晶粒径が大きくなる。その結果、焼結の終期にお
いて、成長が進んだ結晶粒が粒成長の核となり、焼結の
進行が遅い小さな結晶粒がそこへ供給されるという形態
をとり、粒成長が促進される。さらに、上記液相焼結剤
を併用することにより、液相焼結メカニズムによって結
晶粒表面で溶解析出がおこり、結晶粒の成長が助長され
る。
When pellets are manufactured according to the manufacturing method of the present invention, due to the difference in the sintering characteristics of the powders, the progress of sintering locally has a wide particle size distribution during sintering. That is, the portion formed of the powder having high sinterability undergoes more sintering, and the crystal grain size becomes larger than that of the portion formed of the powder having low sinterability. As a result, in the final stage of sintering, the grown crystal grains serve as nuclei for grain growth, and small crystal grains with slow progress of sintering are supplied to the grains, and grain growth is promoted. Further, by using the liquid phase sintering agent in combination, dissolution precipitation occurs on the surface of the crystal grain due to the liquid phase sintering mechanism, and the growth of the crystal grain is promoted.

【0009】[0009]

【実施例】本発明による核燃料ペレットの製造方法の一
実施例を図1により説明する。図1は、3種類のUO2
粉末成形体A,BおよびCを100%水素雰囲気下にお
いて360℃/hの昇温速度で1700℃まで加熱した
場合の収縮曲線である。AおよびBは、それぞれ比表面
積が4.6m2 /gおよび10.1m2 /gのUO2
末にアルミナシリケートを液相焼結助剤として500p
pm添加した混合粉末(特願平3-32322 号の方法によ
る)であり、図1にみられるように焼結性が著しく異な
る。Aでは収縮が約1100℃から始まり、約1400
℃でその速度が最大になり、1700℃で飽和し始めて
いる。またBでは収縮は約900℃から始まり、約11
00℃でその速度が最大となり、約1300℃から飽和
し始めている。
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the method for producing nuclear fuel pellets according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1 shows three types of UO 2.
2 is a shrinkage curve when powder compacts A, B and C are heated to 1700 ° C. at a temperature rising rate of 360 ° C./h in a 100% hydrogen atmosphere. A and B, 500p respectively specific surface area in the UO 2 powder of 4.6 m 2 / g and 10.1 m 2 / g alumina silicates as liquid phase sintering aids
It is a mixed powder added with pm (according to the method of Japanese Patent Application No. 3-32322), and the sinterability is remarkably different as shown in FIG. In A, the shrinkage starts from about 1100 ° C and is about 1400
It reaches its maximum at 0 ° C and begins to saturate at 1700 ° C. In B, the shrinkage starts at about 900 ° C and is about 11
The rate reaches its maximum at 00 ° C, and begins to saturate at about 1300 ° C.

【0010】そこで1700℃まで上記条件で加熱され
た粉末成形体AおよびBの平均結晶粒径を測定したとこ
ろ、それぞれ約2μmおよび約15μmであった。Cは
本発明によるもので、Aの粉末とBの粉末の混合粉末
(A:B=1:1)であり、その収縮曲線はAとBとの
中間を示した。また、1700℃まで上記条件で加熱し
た後、結晶粒径を測定したところ、約2μmの小さい結
晶粒と約15〜20μmの大きな結晶粒の混じったもの
となっていた。すなわち、Cでは、焼結の途中で広い粒
度分布を示すことが分った。
Then, the average crystal grain sizes of the powder compacts A and B heated to 1700 ° C. under the above conditions were measured and found to be about 2 μm and about 15 μm, respectively. C is according to the present invention, which is a mixed powder of A powder and B powder (A: B = 1: 1), and the shrinkage curve thereof is intermediate between A and B. Further, when the crystal grain size was measured after heating to 1700 ° C. under the above conditions, it was found that small crystal grains of about 2 μm and large crystal grains of about 15 to 20 μm were mixed. That is, it was found that C exhibits a wide particle size distribution during sintering.

【0011】これら粉末成形体A,BおよびCを100
%水素雰囲気下において1720℃で3時間焼結したと
ころ、それぞれ結晶粒径は約30μm、約35μmおよ
び約45μmであり、本発明が大粒径ペレットを得る方
法として有効であることが分った。また、焼結密度はど
れも96%TD以上であった。
100 of these powder compacts A, B and C
When sintered at 1720 ° C. for 3 hours in a% hydrogen atmosphere, the crystal grain sizes were about 30 μm, about 35 μm and about 45 μm, respectively, and it was found that the present invention is effective as a method for obtaining large-sized pellets. . Further, the sintered densities were all 96% TD or more.

【0012】本実施例では、A,Bの2種類を等量ずつ
混合した粉末を用いたが、その種類および混合比を調整
することによりペレットの組織をコントロールすること
ができる。また、本実施例ではUO2 粉末について説明
したが、UO2 に可燃性毒物であるGd2 3 を加えた
粉末についても同様に実施することができる。さらに液
相焼結助剤についてもアルミナシリケート以外にTiO
2 やこれらの前駆物質を使用することが可能である。
In this embodiment, a powder prepared by mixing two kinds of A and B in equal amounts was used, but the structure of the pellet can be controlled by adjusting the kind and the mixing ratio. Further, although UO 2 powder has been described in the present embodiment, the same can be applied to a powder obtained by adding Gd 2 O 3 which is a combustible poison to UO 2 . Furthermore, as for the liquid phase sintering aid, in addition to alumina silicate, TiO
2 and their precursors can be used.

【0013】[0013]

【発明の効果】本発明によれば、現状の工程をほとんど
変えることなく、容易に、結晶粒径が大きくFPガス放
出率および気泡スエリングの小さなペレットを製造し得
る。
According to the present invention, a pellet having a large crystal grain size and a small FP gas release rate and a small bubble swelling can be easily manufactured with almost no change in the existing process.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図1】3種類のUO2 粉末成形体の焼結特性を示す
図。
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing sintering characteristics of three types of UO 2 powder compacts.

Claims (2)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項1】 焼結特性の異なる2種類以上のUO2
末あるいはUO2 −Gd2 3 混合粉末を圧粉成形し、
これを焼結することを特徴とする核燃料ペレットの製造
方法。
1. A compaction molding of two or more kinds of UO 2 powder or UO 2 -Gd 2 O 3 mixed powder having different sintering characteristics,
A method for producing a nuclear fuel pellet, which comprises sintering this.
【請求項2】 請求項1記載の核燃料ペレットの製造方
法において、さらにAl2 3 、SiO2 およびTiO
2 からなる群から選ばれた1種または2種以上もしくは
その前駆物質を液相焼結助剤として添加して焼結するこ
とを特徴とする核燃料ペレットの製造方法。
2. The method for producing a nuclear fuel pellet according to claim 1, further comprising Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and TiO 2.
A method for producing a nuclear fuel pellet, which comprises adding one or more selected from the group consisting of 2 or a precursor thereof as a liquid phase sintering aid and sintering.
JP4344285A 1992-12-24 1992-12-24 Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet Pending JPH06194480A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP4344285A JPH06194480A (en) 1992-12-24 1992-12-24 Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP4344285A JPH06194480A (en) 1992-12-24 1992-12-24 Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH06194480A true JPH06194480A (en) 1994-07-15

Family

ID=18368059

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP4344285A Pending JPH06194480A (en) 1992-12-24 1992-12-24 Manufacture of nuclear fuel pellet

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH06194480A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2817385A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-05-31 Framatome Anp OXIDIZED NUCLEAR FUEL PELLET AND PENCIL COMPRISING A STACK OF SUCH PELLETS
JP2002519677A (en) * 1998-06-26 2002-07-02 ブリティッシュ・ニュークリア・フューエルズ・パブリック・リミテッド・カンパニー Nuclear fuel pellets

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002519677A (en) * 1998-06-26 2002-07-02 ブリティッシュ・ニュークリア・フューエルズ・パブリック・リミテッド・カンパニー Nuclear fuel pellets
JP4700806B2 (en) * 1998-06-26 2011-06-15 ウェスティングハウス・エレクトリック・カンパニー,リミテッド・ライアビリティー・カンパニー Nuclear fuel pellets
FR2817385A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-05-31 Framatome Anp OXIDIZED NUCLEAR FUEL PELLET AND PENCIL COMPRISING A STACK OF SUCH PELLETS
WO2002045096A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-06-06 Framatome Anp Pencil comprising a stack of oxide nuclear fuel pellets

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