Fabrication Technology for MOX Fuel Containing AmO_2 by an In-cell Remote Process

概要

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An in-cell remote fabrication technique was developed for MOX fuel pellets containing 3 and 5% americium (Am–MOX fuel pellet). The fuel pellet was fabricated by means of conventional powder metallurgy. A series of fuel pellet fabrication apparatuses were systematically installed in the alpha-gamma cell (hot cell) to protect workers from a strong γ-ray exposure from 241Am, and were remotely controlled from a panel in the operation room outside the hot cells as much as possible. From a preliminary UO2 pellet fabrication run, ball milling of powder for 4 h, pressing at 4 t/cm2 and sintering at 1,700°C for 2 h were determined as a good fabrication, but the ball milling time was too short for the UO2 and Am–PuO2 powders of different morphologies to be uniformly mixed. Then, the 5% Am–MOX fuel pellet of density more than 93% T.D. which is proper to the irradiation in FBR was successfully fabricated by extending the ball milling time for more than 10 h. It was, furthermore, found that the complete cleanup of the powder feeder was necessary in the transition of fabrication runs to prevent the formation of uranium and plutonium spots in the pellets.
社団法人日本原子力学会の論文
2004-08-25