UO2 Pellet Manufacture for CANDU Fuel

Abstract

Nuclear fuel requirements in Canada will reach 2000 MgU by the end of this decade. Operation on this scale has necessitated process changes that have been beneficial with respect to quality and consistency of the UO₂ powder required for the demanding dry pressing pellet fabrication route. The ability to control the physical and chemical properties of UO₂ powder and predict its pelleting behaviour has become increasingly important as the scale of operations increase. To assist this endeavour programs of work have been performed to investigate some of the more serious UO₂ pellet quality problems that have been encountered in recent years. These have included examination of the role of powder agglomerates on pellet processing, the effect of certain chemical impurities on pellet sintering and the effect of long term storage on powder characteristics and pellet fabrication behaviour.