US3344508A - Process for producing cladded fuel elements - Google Patents

Process for producing cladded fuel elements Download PDF

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Publication number
US3344508A
US3344508A US338621A US33862164A US3344508A US 3344508 A US3344508 A US 3344508A US 338621 A US338621 A US 338621A US 33862164 A US33862164 A US 33862164A US 3344508 A US3344508 A US 3344508A
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United States
Prior art keywords
fuel
approximately
temperature
composite
fuel elements
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Expired - Lifetime
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US338621A
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Stohr Jacuqes Andre
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
    • B21C23/00—Extruding metal; Impact extrusion
    • B21C23/22—Making metal-coated products; Making products from two or more metals
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K20/00—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K20/00—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating
    • B23K20/22—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded
    • B23K20/233—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded without ferrous layer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C21/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof
    • G21C21/02—Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C21/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of reactors or parts thereof
    • G21C21/02—Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings
    • G21C21/10—Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings by extrusion, drawing, or stretching by rolling, e.g. "picture frame" technique
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/4998—Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
    • Y10T29/49982—Coating

Definitions

  • the invention is more especially concerned, among the aforesaid processes, with those which permit the possibility of obtaining said fuel elements from composite billets or blooms in which the core of these latter constitutes the fuel proper whereas the outer portion thereof constitutes the cladding material, and which effect at the same time the formation of a metallurgical bond between the fuel and the can as well as the shaping of the round bar, tube or plate.
  • the object of the present invention is to make the said processes such that these latter meet the various practical requirements more effectively than has hitherto been achieved, especially insofar as they permit the possibility of overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above by ensuring that the shaping operation and provision of a metallurgical bond are carried into effect in the correct manner without calling either for protective jacketing, controlled atmosphere preheating furnaces or complex apparatus for the purpose of welding or sealing jackets or blooms which had been necessary up to the present time.
  • the invention mainly consists-after having effected the metallurgical bond by diffusion between the fuel and the can by means of thermo-pneumatic or hydrostatic machinein subjecting the product obtained to a plastic state deformation process such as rolling or extrusion, at a temperature which is compatible with the materials employed.
  • the present invention further consists in certain other arrangements which are preferably employed at the same time and which are to be considered either separately or in combination, namely:
  • the metallurgical bond between the fuel and the can is ensured, after sealing of the fuel-can assembly by welding, by maintaining said assembly at a suitable temperature and pressure during the time which is necessary to obtain a diffusion bond between the constitutent materials;
  • the aforesaid operation is carried out directly on the can-fuel assembly in a neutral gas atmosphere (argon, for example);
  • the process in accordance with the invention makes it possible to replace the conventional protective jackets (for example of steel) which are both of substantial thickness and costly by thin'walled casings (of steel or copper sheet, for example).
  • a further economic advantage of the process is that its dispenses with the use of furnaces for preheating at high temperature in a controlled atmosphere as well as the use of apparatus for welding and sealing jackets.
  • the process in accordance with the invention transforms the operations involving co-extrusion or co-rolling in a jacket at high temperature into operations involving co-extrusion or co-rolling without jacket at moderate temperature.
  • the fuel-can assembly will be processed within a thermo-pneumatic machine and brought therein to a temperature of 750 to 950 C. at a pressure of at least 30 kilograms per square centimeter and will be maintained therein for a period of time which depends on the pressure and temperature adopted.
  • Uranium-zirconium fuel elements containing 2 to 8% by weight of uranium and clad with zircalloy have been metallurgically bonded under the following conditions: Temperature, 800 C.; pressure, 300 kgs./cm. time, 30 minutes; gas, neutral gas (argon, for example, or air).
  • the fuel elements were placed, in the case of air, within the protective boxes of copper or steel sheet of A mm. thickness.
  • a process for producing a fuel element comprised of a core section constituting the fuel proper and an outer protective cladding for said core section comprising the following steps: (a) contacting a uraniumzirconium fuel mixture containing from about 2 to 8% weight uranium with a cladding zircalloy to form a composite; (b) subjecting said composite to a temperature of approximately 800 C., at approximately 300 kgs./cm. pressure for a time of approximately 30 minutes in an inert atmosphere to thereby obtain a metallur-gically bonded metallic material; and (c) subjecting the material obtained from step (b) to a plastic state deformation process at a temperature range of from room temperature to 400 C.
  • step (b) the composite is enclosed and sealed in an evacuated casing comprised of metal sheeting having a thickness of approximately mm.

Description

United States Patent 3,344,508 PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CLADDED FUEL ELEMENTS Jacques Andr Stohr, Bures-sur-Yvette, France, assignor to Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique, Paris, France No Drawing. Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338,621 Claims priority, application France, Feb. 20, 1963, 925,479 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-4205) The present invention relates to co-extrusion and corolling processes which are employed in particular for the purpose of obtaining fuel elements in the form of round bars, tubes or plates.
The invention is more especially concerned, among the aforesaid processes, with those which permit the possibility of obtaining said fuel elements from composite billets or blooms in which the core of these latter constitutes the fuel proper whereas the outer portion thereof constitutes the cladding material, and which effect at the same time the formation of a metallurgical bond between the fuel and the can as well as the shaping of the round bar, tube or plate.
In the processes of the prior art, the co-extrusion or c0- rolling operation was performed either directly on a composite billet or bloom or alternatively on a composite billet or bloom which was placed within a jacket, the function of which was to ensure that materials to be transformed were protected from the surrounding atmosphere.
The performance of these operations without jacket ing is subject to the disadvantages which arise from absence of protection, for example the nitriding and corrosion effects which result in the case of zirconium or zirconium alloys. Moreover, the use of conventional protective jackets of steel increases the cost price of the operation to a considerable extent.
The object of the present invention is to make the said processes such that these latter meet the various practical requirements more effectively than has hitherto been achieved, especially insofar as they permit the possibility of overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above by ensuring that the shaping operation and provision of a metallurgical bond are carried into effect in the correct manner without calling either for protective jacketing, controlled atmosphere preheating furnaces or complex apparatus for the purpose of welding or sealing jackets or blooms which had been necessary up to the present time.
The invention mainly consists-after having effected the metallurgical bond by diffusion between the fuel and the can by means of thermo-pneumatic or hydrostatic machinein subjecting the product obtained to a plastic state deformation process such as rolling or extrusion, at a temperature which is compatible with the materials employed.
Apart from this main arrangement, the present invention further consists in certain other arrangements which are preferably employed at the same time and which are to be considered either separately or in combination, namely:
The metallurgical bond between the fuel and the can is ensured, after sealing of the fuel-can assembly by welding, by maintaining said assembly at a suitable temperature and pressure during the time which is necessary to obtain a diffusion bond between the constitutent materials;
Patented Oct. 3, 1957 The aforesaid operation is carried out under hydrostatic pressure (water or oil, for example);
The aforesaid operation is carried out directly on the can-fuel assembly in a neutral gas atmosphere (argon, for example);
The aforesaid operation is carried out on said assembly which has been previously enclosed within a sealed casing (thin sheet of steel or copper, for example) which is closed in a vacuum or in an inert gas, and the atmosphere can in that case be any suitable gas.
The invention will in any case be more clearly understood by perusal of the complementary description and of the example which now follows below, said complementary description and said example being given solely by way of indication and not in any sense by Way of implied limitation.
The process in accordance with the invention makes it possible to replace the conventional protective jackets (for example of steel) which are both of substantial thickness and costly by thin'walled casings (of steel or copper sheet, for example). A further economic advantage of the process is that its dispenses with the use of furnaces for preheating at high temperature in a controlled atmosphere as well as the use of apparatus for welding and sealing jackets. Moreover, the process in accordance with the invention transforms the operations involving co-extrusion or co-rolling in a jacket at high temperature into operations involving co-extrusion or co-rolling without jacket at moderate temperature.
In the case, for example, of zirconium or its alloys, the fuel-can assembly will be processed within a thermo-pneumatic machine and brought therein to a temperature of 750 to 950 C. at a pressure of at least 30 kilograms per square centimeter and will be maintained therein for a period of time which depends on the pressure and temperature adopted.
Uranium-zirconium fuel elements containing 2 to 8% by weight of uranium and clad with zircalloy have been metallurgically bonded under the following conditions: Temperature, 800 C.; pressure, 300 kgs./cm. time, 30 minutes; gas, neutral gas (argon, for example, or air).
The fuel elements were placed, in the case of air, within the protective boxes of copper or steel sheet of A mm. thickness.
It was possible to carry out the rolling of said fuel elements in the cold or warm state, that is to say within the range which is comprised between room temperature and 400 C., and within which no nitridingof the zirconium takes place, this result being achieved without the aid of any protective expedient. The elements thus rolled have shown no defect in the zone which was bonded by diffusion as a preliminary step.
It Will be understood that the present invention is not limited in any respect either to the mode of application or to the example of execution which has been more especially contemplated but is intended, on the contrary, to include within its scope all alternative forms.
What I claim is:
1. A process for producing a fuel element comprised of a core section constituting the fuel proper and an outer protective cladding for said core section, said process comprising the following steps: (a) contacting a uraniumzirconium fuel mixture containing from about 2 to 8% weight uranium with a cladding zircalloy to form a composite; (b) subjecting said composite to a temperature of approximately 800 C., at approximately 300 kgs./cm. pressure for a time of approximately 30 minutes in an inert atmosphere to thereby obtain a metallur-gically bonded metallic material; and (c) subjecting the material obtained from step (b) to a plastic state deformation process at a temperature range of from room temperature to 400 C.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein prior to step (b), the composite is enclosed and sealed in an evacuated casing comprised of metal sheeting having a thickness of approximately mm.
References Cited UNITED 10 JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.
CHARLIE MOON, Examiner.
P. M. COHEN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A FUEL ELEMENT COMPRISED OF A CORE SECTION CONSTITUTING THE FUEL PROPER AND AN OUTER PROTECTIVE CLADDING FOR SAID CORE SECTION, SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (A) CONTACTING A URANIUMZIRCONIUM FUEL MIXTURE CONTAINING FROM ABOUT 2 TO 8% WEIGHT URANIUM WITH A CLADDING ZIRCALLOY TO FORM A COMPOSITE; (B) SUBJECTING SAID COMPOSITE TO A TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 800*C., AT APPROXIMATELY 300 KGS./CM.2 PRESSURE FOR A TIME OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES IN AN INERT ATMOSPHERE TO THEREBY OBTAIN A METALLURGICALLY BONDED METALLIC MATERIAL; AND (C) SUBJECTING THE MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM STEP (B) TO A PLASTIC STATE DEFORMATION PROCESS AT A TEMPERATURE RANGE OF FROM ROOM TEMPERATURE TO 400*C.
US338621A 1963-02-20 1964-01-20 Process for producing cladded fuel elements Expired - Lifetime US3344508A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR925479A FR1358464A (en) 1963-02-20 1963-02-20 Improvements to the cofiling and co-rolling processes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3344508A true US3344508A (en) 1967-10-03

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US (1) US3344508A (en)
BE (1) BE644036A (en)
CH (1) CH426027A (en)
ES (1) ES295727A1 (en)
FR (1) FR1358464A (en)
GB (1) GB1041933A (en)
LU (1) LU45257A1 (en)
NL (1) NL303045A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3447230A (en) * 1967-01-05 1969-06-03 Sylvania Electric Prod Art of making seamless hollow bodies from sinterable powders

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3798742A (en) * 1973-01-24 1974-03-26 Crucible Inc Method for hot working

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3025592A (en) * 1959-07-22 1962-03-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Phase transformation bonding of metal members
US3118221A (en) * 1959-02-26 1964-01-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Method of making wafers with disseminated particles
US3194643A (en) * 1962-07-20 1965-07-13 Lukens Steel Co Clad metal product
US3235958A (en) * 1961-10-09 1966-02-22 Commissariat Energie Atomique Method of cladding by hydrostatic pressure applied to heated units inside a cold liquid cladding apparatus
US3243871A (en) * 1963-08-12 1966-04-05 Nat Res Corp Method of making ductile superconductors

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3118221A (en) * 1959-02-26 1964-01-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Method of making wafers with disseminated particles
US3025592A (en) * 1959-07-22 1962-03-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Phase transformation bonding of metal members
US3235958A (en) * 1961-10-09 1966-02-22 Commissariat Energie Atomique Method of cladding by hydrostatic pressure applied to heated units inside a cold liquid cladding apparatus
US3194643A (en) * 1962-07-20 1965-07-13 Lukens Steel Co Clad metal product
US3243871A (en) * 1963-08-12 1966-04-05 Nat Res Corp Method of making ductile superconductors

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3447230A (en) * 1967-01-05 1969-06-03 Sylvania Electric Prod Art of making seamless hollow bodies from sinterable powders

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Publication number Publication date
NL303045A (en)
FR1358464A (en) 1964-04-17
ES295727A1 (en) 1964-05-01
CH426027A (en) 1966-12-15
LU45257A1 (en) 1964-03-20
GB1041933A (en) 1966-09-07
BE644036A (en) 1964-06-15

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