Separation of fuel and cladding by expanding the cladding tube

Dissolution of irradiated fuels, especially of MOX-fuel, in nitric acid could be improved if the fuel is separated from the cladding material in advance. This has been achieved by heating the rods preferably by direct current. The heated cladding tube is expanded by internal gas pressure; fuel pellets can be discharged easily after opening the tube at one end. The first test results with unirradiated rods were so encouraging that the development work will be continued with irradiated rods in hot cells. (orig.)