US3778885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the manufacture of plutonium-containing nuclear fuel rods
Assignee: Alkem GmbH
•
Filing: 1972-07-24
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-07-24
Abstract
Abstract Nuclear fuel rods are manufactured by coating the inner wall of the tubular casing of the fuel rod with a layer of plutoniumcontaining matrix so that the plutonium is disposed only in the cylindrical outer zone of the uranium-containing nuclear fuel charge. This is done by preparing a suspension of plutoniumcontaining particles in a lacquer which can be decomposed into carbon by a heat treatment, passing the suspension through the tubular casing and heating the dried coating of the suspension in a protective inert atmosphere until the lacquer is cabonized.
Inventors
- 👤 W Stoll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:02
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49982
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the plutonium content of said matrix is greater than 50 percent by weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the plutonium and uranium used are in oxide compound form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the coating of a layer of plutonium-containing matrix is applied in a thickness in the range of 10 Mu to 100 Mu .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the step of coating the inner wall of the tubular casing with a layer of a plutonium-containing matrix, comprises: a. preparing a suspension of plutonium-containing particles in a lacquer which can be decomposed into carbon by a heat treatment; b. passing said suspension through the tubular casing; c. allowing a film of said suspension to coat the inner wall of the tubular casing; d. allowing the excess suspension to drip off the inner wall of the tubular casing; e. allowing the coating of said suspension on the inner wall of the tubular casing to dry; and f. heating the dried coating of said suspension in a protective inert atmosphere until the lacuqer is carbonized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the step of preparing a suspension oF plutonium-containing particles ina lacquer, comprises regulating the concentration of the plutonium-containing particles in the suspension so that in the carbonized lacquer coating on the inner wall of the tubular casing the ratio of the amount of carbon to plutonium is in the range of 1:5 to 1: 20.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the step of preparing a suspension of plutonium-containing particles comprises using plutonium-containing particles having a diameter of less than 10 Mu .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the step of preparing a suspension of plutonium-containing particles comprises using plutonium-containing particles having a diameter of less than 1 Mu .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein the step of preparing a suspension of plutonium-containing particles comprises regulating the viscosity of the suspension so that the thickness of the layer on the inner wall of the tubular casing is in the range of 10 Mu to 100 Mu .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the step of closing off the tubular casing at each end comprises: a. joining a first end cap to one of the ends of the tubular casing after coating the inner wall of the tubular casing with a layer of plutonium-containing matrix and before placing the uranium-containing nuclear fuel charge in the tubular casing; and b. joining a second end cap on the opposite end of the tubular casing from said first end cap to close off the tubular casing after placing the uranium-containing nuclear fuel charge in the tubular casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method according to claim 1 and further comprising the additional step of providing a space on the inner wall of the tubular casing at each end of the fuel rod between the layer of plutonium-containing matrix and the end capS.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein said sapce provided at each end of the fuel rod is achieved by covering the zones on the inner wall of the tubular casing at each end of the fuel rod prior to applying the layer of plutonium-containing matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA597600A
Cited
CA711368A
Cited
US3158547A
Cited
US3215607A
Cited
US3230151A
Cited
GB1195206A
Cited
US3668283A
Cited
US3652744A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |