Cutting Force Test of Cutting Blade Modules for Slitter Design

As the major requirements, 50 kg HM/day throughput and 250 working days (full capacity) per 1 year were assumed, and based on KSFA type (16x16), it was conditioned to process 10 Ton HM/year fuel with 85 % availability. Cutting force test results of cutting blade can be utilized for the head-end decladding process of SF dry process. For the concept design of the device, a tool was made to test the simulated fuel rods and cutting force and the cutting force was measured. When 2-CUT and 3-CUT modules were used, the maximum force in 2-CUT at 12.5 mm/s speed change was 197.5 kgf and the maximum force at 3-CUT was 363.2 kgf. The change of force in 2-CUT rapidly increases from about 1 second, and you can see that there are increase and decrease of the force change from about 5 seconds to 18 seconds, and it was rapidly decreased and the cut was made. The force change in 3-CUT has higher force at about 5 seconds later than 2-CUT at the speed of 12.5 mm/s, and you can see that it has the same tendency afterwards. If you search for the force at adequate speed from this cutting force test, 2-CUT module requires less slitting force than 3-CUT module, and the cutting time for 250 mm at 12.5 mm/s was 21 seconds, which can cut 4 m fuel rod in 5 minutes.