PROCESS FOR SEPARATING GRAPHIC MATRIX, COATED NUCLEAR FUEL PARTICLES, AS WELL AS INSTALLATION FOR PROCESSING GRAPHIC FUEL ELEMENTS OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE NUCLEAR REACTORS FOR THE INITIAL PROCESSING STAGE OF AN INITIAL PROCESSING STAGE

摘要

A treating process is provided for the separation of coated nuclear fuel particles from a graphitic matrix in which the nuclear fuel particles are embedded, and an installation provides for the conditioning of graphitic fuel elements of high-temperature nuclear reactors. The graphite which encompasses the nuclear fuel particles is conducted away through the action of a brush which isolates the nuclear fuel particles together with their coatings or the nuclear particles themselves. The nuclear fuel particles which are contained in the brushed product are then separated from the comminuted graphite.