Research in fuel element technology in Yugoslavia

The main results of the research and development programme in ceramic fuel element technology are shown. Work on this programme started in both the Boris Kidric and the Jozef Stefan Institute ten years ago. During this period competent groups for research and development in all stages of fuel element production processes, testing and investigation, were established. The paper describes the basic results of theoretical and experimental investigations in the sintering of uranium dioxide powder; welding of stainless steel and zirconium alloys; methods carried out for mechanical testing of fuel elements; thermophysical nuclear and hydrodynamic testing of fuel elements; methods developed for determining nuclear impurities in fuel; fuel behaviour in nuclear reactor operating conditions, and determination of fuel burn up. Some new fuel element production processes with special reference to vibratory compaction were also given. On the basis of our recent studies, a parametric technical and economic analysis for the construction of a plant for fuel element production was described in connection with the integration of nuclear power stations in the Yugoslav electric power system (author)