Development of a program in LABVIEW platform to controlling and monitoring a Sievert-type system for comminution of metallic uranium and its alloys

A comminution process by hydriding-dehydriding method was developed at CDTN-Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear with the purpose of obtaining plate type nuclear fuel. This fuel requires the use of metallic uranium and its alloys in form of powders. This comminution process was performed based on a Sievert system. Initially this system was controlled and monitored by a computer program developed in Turbo Pascal language. In order to improve the control of the comminution process, a new program was developed in LabVIEW platform. This paper presents a description of this new program and the main aspects of the operation of the system. The more accurate monitoring and controlling of the various stages of the comminution process as well as greater flexibility in the choice of input data, real-time graphics, generation of reports and a reduction of time passivation were achieved. (author)