Fabrication of UO2 Annular Pellet with High Thermal Stability for Dual Cooled Fuel

摘要

To increase the efficiency of a nuclear power generation, a nuclear fuel for high burnup and extended cycle has been developed. One of the innovative nuclear fuel concepts being developed has a new fuel geometry design that is of an annular sintered pellet, inner and outer cladding, and a dual cooling system which is cooled by both an internal and external coolant (dual cooled fuel). In the development of a fabrication technology of the annular pellet for dual cooled fuel, it is important that the dimensional tolerance of the annular pellet satisfied with a fuel design criteria. Because the dimensional tolerance of annular pellet can directly affect the nuclear fuel performance in reactor, it must be significantly considered.