Belgonucleaire Sa

Jean P Van Vliet

Alain Vandergheynst

Eduard Pelckmans

A process for manufacturing (U,Pu)O mixed oxide nuclear fuel pellets. In a first blending operation, PuO is mixed with a UO powder and/or fuel manufacturing scrap, forming a first blend. The first blend is micronized and sieved to form a conditioned first blend. Non-free-flowing UO is selected as a second portion of UO . The second portion of UO is mechanically granulated to form granulated free-flowing UO . In a second blending operation, the conditioned first blend is further mixed with the granulated free-flowing UO and possibly scrap. Lubricants and/or poreformers are added. The blend is pelletized and sintered. During granulation, the non free-flowing UO is compressed to form tablets. The tablets are then crushed until a free-flowing crushed material has been formed. At least one portion of this free flowing crushed material is used in the second blending operation.

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Grimbergen, Belgium

Jean P Van Vliet