Fabrication of zero power reactor fuel elements containing 233U3O8 powder

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, under contract with Argonne National Laboratory, completed the fabrication of 1743 fuel elements for use in their Zero Power Reactor. The contract also included recovery of 20 kg of 233U from rejected elements. This report describes the steps associated with conversion of purified uranyl nitrate (as solution) to U3O8 powder (suitable for fuel) and subsequent charging, sealing, decontamination, and testing of the fuel elements (packets) preparatory to shipment. The nuclear safety, radiation exposures, and quality assurance aspects of the program are discussed