Development of the universal fuel rod consolidation machine tool

The axial motion of spent fuel rods to provide a transformation from an open square lattice array to a tight triangular pitch array was the defined task of the Universal Fuel Rod Consolidation Machine Tool. With the above solid state motion of long thin cylinders defined as the task, added requirements were imposed by the nature of the thin cylinders being handled. The structure being handled is a thin walled cylinder of zircaloy imbrittled by irradiation exposure and possible hydriding. Any impact shock loads will lead to the possible brittle failure of the fuel cladding and must be avoided at all cost. The physical condition of the fuel rod cladding dictated the mode of motion in the machine tool. This motion was a closed path controlled motion completely free of impact loads. Progressive development of the machine are presented in the form of actual components used in the R and D phase of the tool development. In addition, graphs and tables of the various loads/stresses calculated and measured are presented