Published 1989 | Version v1
Journal article

Fabrication of (U,Pu)C and (U,Pu)N fuels for FBTR and PFBR

  • 1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay (India). Radiometallurgy Div.

Description

Mixed uranium plutonium monocarbide (MC) and mononitride (MN) are advanced fuels for liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactors (LMFBR). As a first step to LMFBR programme in India, a fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) has been commissioned with indigenously developed plutonium rich MC fuel. Research and development work are in progress for uranium rich MC and MN fuels for the forthcoming prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR). In BARC, viable process flowsheets based on 'powder-pellet' route have been developed for production of both uranium and plutonium rich MC and MN fuel pellets, starting with UO2 and PuO2 powders. A sol gel microsphere pelletisation (SGMP) process is also being developed. The present paper summarises the research and development activities related to the fabrication of MC and MN fuels in BARC during the last 10 years, highlighting the fabrication experience of mixed carbide fuel core for FBTR and the results of the recent experiments on carbothermic synthesis and sintering of MC and MN fuels for PFBR. (author) 19 refs., 7 figs., 10 tabs

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Materials Science Forum
Journal Volume
48-49
Series
Mater. Sci. Forum.
Journal Page Range
153-173
ISSN
0255-5476
CODEN
MSFOE

Conference

Title
Symposium on Nuclear Fuel Fabrication NUFFAB'88.
Dates
12-14 Dec 1988.
Place
Bombay (India).