Head-end separation of TRISO-coated fissile and fertile particles for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors

Recycle fuel for HTGRs uses TRISO-coated particles containing two fissile materials, 233U and 235U. The economics of the fuel cycle makes separation of these materials before reprocessing desirable. Laboratory scale head-end studies have demonstrated that the silicon-carbide layer has adequate integrity after irradiation to permit separation of the two types of fissile material by size.