University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

James S Tulenko

Ronald Howard Baney

Ghatu Subhash

Lihao Ge

Sunghwan Yeo

Edward McKenna, Iii

Kevin William Powers

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UOand a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.

High density UOand high thermal conductivity UOcomposites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600&#xb0; C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UOand a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.

High density UO2 and high thermal conductivity UO2 composites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)

A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWNR) includes a core having a containment shield surrounding a reactor vessel having fuel assemblies that contain fuel rods filled with fuel pellets, and control rods, and a steam generator thermally coupled to the reactor vessel. A flow loop includes the steam generator, a turbine, and a condenser, and a pump for circulating a water-based heat transfer fluid in the loop. The heat transfer fluid includes a plurality of nanoparticles having at least one carbon allotrope or related carbon material dispersed therein, such as diamond nanoparticles.

Nuclear reactor having efficient and highly stable carbon-based thermal transfer fluid

Nuclear reactor having efficient and highly stable thermal transfer fluid

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

James S Tulenko