A Summary of the Work on the ''U₃O₈ Route'' for Porous UO₂ Kernel Preparation

With the increasing emphasis on the commercial exploitation of HTR's the Dragon Project i s preparing for an ''industrial line'' on reduced scale able nevertheless to produce a minimum of 10 kg uranium/day of kernels, for a fuel manufacture demonstration. Of the possible routes for the preparation of large UO₂ porous kernels, the ''U₃O₈ route'' has been selected two years ago by the Project for Intensive studies. This report gives a resume of the present knowledge on the ''U₃O₈ route'' and a summary of the work achieved in order to support and prepare the setting up of this kernel line. (author)