IN-LINE MONITORING OF EFFLUENTS FROM HTGR FUEL PARTICLE PREPARATION PROCESSES USING A TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROMETER

摘要

The carbonization, conversion, and coating processes in the manufacture of HTGR fuel particles have been studied with the use of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Non-condensable effluents from these fluidized-bed processes have been monitored continuously from the beginning to the end of the process. The processes which have been monitored are these: uranium-loaded ion exchange resin carbonization, the carbothermic reduction of U02 to UC2, buffer and low temperature isotropic pyrocarbon coatings of fuel kernels, SiC coating of the kernels, and high temperature particle annealing. Changes in concentrations of significant molecules with time and temperature have been useful in the interpretation of reaction mechanisms and optimization of pro¬cess procedures.