General Atomic Company

Gary N Miertschin

David F Leary

Roy G Cooper

Kenneth F Powell

Nuclear fuel rods are manufactured utilizing a graphite flour-pitch matrix formulation containing an additive. The matrix formulation has a decreased viscosity at fabrication temperatures which permits manufacture of the fuel rods with lower fabrication pressures. Also, the matrix formulation does not cause the fuel rod to adhere or bond to the fuel element during heat treatment of the fuel rod in the fuel element. The nuclear fuel rods are suitable for use in high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors.

Manufacture of nuclear fuel compacts

A nuclear fuel element and a method for making the fuel element are described. The fuel element comprises a graphite block in which elongated holes are filled with nuclear fuel. The nuclear fuel in each of the holes comprises a plurality of fuel rod segments which are, before firing, spaced from each other by a plurality of spacers. Upon firing, the spacer material gasifies, leaving unfilled gaps between the fuel rod segments.

Method for making nuclear fuel element

Nuclear fuel element and method for making same

Particulate nuclear fuel material, particulate carbon and pitch are combined with an additive which is effective to reduce the coke yield upon carbonization to mold a green fuel body. The additive may be polystyrene, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, an aromatic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight between about 75 and 300 or a saturated hydrocarbon polymer. The green fuel body is inserted in a complementary cavity within a porous nuclear fuel element body and heated in situ to decompose the pitch and additive, leaving a relatively close-fitting fuel body in the cavity.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Gary N Miertschin