US4016226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making porous nuclear fuel
Assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co
•
Filing: 1975-02-10
•
Granted: 1977-04-05
•
Expires: 1995-02-10
Abstract
Abstract Illustrative embodiments of the invention disclose fuel pellets for nuclear reactors in which the pellets have a controlled and relatively homogeneous porosity that accommodates fuel swelling and permits fission gases to escape from these pellets. Typically, small low density spheres, that may be formed from highly volatile material, are blended with a nuclear fuel powder, and are pressed and sintered into pellets of appropriately low density to produce an improved product.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Joseph Kosiancic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:52
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/51; C04B38/00; C04B38/009; C04B2111/00; C04B2111/00474; C04B2111/00862; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/90; Y10S376/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
The method for producing a sintered ceramic pellet with a controlled porosity comprising the steps of blending ceramic nuclear fuel powder with a predetermined quantity of uranium dioxide gel spheres, pressing said blended ceramic nuclear fuel and gel spheres into a pellet, and sintering said pressed pellet to completely dissipate at least a portion of said gel spheres in order to prevent a residue deposit from forming within the pellet and to produce a selectively controlled porosity within said pellet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
The method for producing a sintered ceramic pellet with a controlled porosity comprising the steps of blending ceramic nuclear fuel powder with a predetermined quantity of uranium dioxide gel spheres, pressing said blended ceramic nuclear fuel and gel spheres into a pellet, and sintering said pressed pellet to completely dissipate at least a portion of said gel spheres in order to prevent a residue deposit from forming within the pellet and to produce a selectively controlled porosity within said pellet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said blending step further comprises the step of blending uranium dioxide ceramic nuclear fuel powder with a predetermined quantity of uranium dioxide gel spheres.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2792302A
Cited
US3114689A
Cited
US3214270A
Cited
US3268997A
Cited
US3540884A
Cited
US3846520A
Cited
US3812050A
Cited
US3852045A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-04 | 1980-10-04 | 1981-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-04 | 1984-10-04 | 1985-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-04 | 1988-10-04 | 1989-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |