Patent FR539171A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4383953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of improving the green strength of nuclear fuel pellets
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1981-07-06
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Granted: 1983-05-17
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Expires: 2001-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A process for imparting increased strength and physical durability in green bodies or pellets formed of particulate oxides of uranium, plutonium and the like in the production of pelletized fissionable nuclear fuel. The green or unfired pellets comprise a fugitive binder dispersed through the particulate oxide fuel material.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard I. Larson
- 👤 Henry C. Brassfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:00
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/42; G21C3/58; G21C3/62; G21C3/623; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate material and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of : (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate material with a fluidized bed system; (b) adding a fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate material and blending the binder with the particulate material, said fugitive binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (c) aging the blended binder and particulate material for a period of greater than 48 hours; and (d) forming the resulting aged blend by pressing into a green body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate material and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of : (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate material with a fluidized bed system; (b) adding a fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate material and blending the binder with the particulate material, said fugitive binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (c) aging the blended binder and particulate material for a period of greater than 48 hours; and (d) forming the resulting aged blend by pressing into a green body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is comprised of uranium dioxide and plutonium dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is uranium dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the binder is ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein ammonium oxalate is added to the particulate material as a pore former.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate material and a fugitive binder for producing porous green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) combining and blending ammonium oxalate with particulate uranium dioxide; (b) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system and adding thereto the combined and blended ammonium oxalate and particulate uranium dioxide; (c) adding a fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide and blending the binder with the particulate material, said fugitive binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (d) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours; and (e) forming the resulting aged blend by pressing into a green body.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate material and a fugitive binder for producing porous green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) combining and blending ammonium oxalate with particulate uranium dioxide; (b) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system and adding thereto the combined and blended ammonium oxalate and particulate uranium dioxide; (c) adding a fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide and blending the binder with the particulate material, said fugitive binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (d) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours; and (e) forming the resulting aged blend by pressing into a green body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the binder is ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the binder is added to the particulate uranium dioxide in amounts of about 0.5 to about 7.0 weight percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the pressed green pellet comprising the aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide is sintered.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system; (b) adding a fugative binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide, said fugative binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (c) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent; and (d) forming the resultant aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing same into a green body.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system; (b) adding a fugative binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide, said fugative binder being comprised of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (c) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent; and (d) forming the resultant aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing same into a green body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the binder is ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the binder is added to the particulate uranium dioxide in amounts of about 0.5 to 7.0 weight percent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10, wherein ammonium oxalate is added to the particulate uranium dioxide as a pore former.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the pressed green pellet comprising the aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide is sintered.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing porous green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) combining and blending powdered ammonium oxalate with particulate uranium dioxide in approximately the same quantities by weight; (b) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system and adding thereto the combined and blended ammonium oxalate and particulate uranium dioxide; (c) adding a fugative binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide in amount of about 0.5 to 7.0 weight percent and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide, said fugative binder being composed of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (d) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent; and, (e) forming the resulting aged blend of powdered ammonium oxalate, binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing into a green body.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing porous green pellets free of flaws and having improved strength, comprising the steps of: (a) combining and blending powdered ammonium oxalate with particulate uranium dioxide in approximately the same quantities by weight; (b) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with a fluidized bed system and adding thereto the combined and blended ammonium oxalate and particulate uranium dioxide; (c) adding a fugative binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide in amount of about 0.5 to 7.0 weight percent and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide, said fugative binder being composed of ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate carbamate, ammonium sesquicarbonate, ammonium carbamate, and mixtures thereof; (d) aging the blended binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent; and, (e) forming the resulting aged blend of powdered ammonium oxalate, binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing into a green body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the binder is ammonium bicarbonate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the pressed green pellet comprising the aged blend of powdered ammonium oxalate, binder and particulate uranium dioxide is sintered.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the blending of the binder and uranium dioxide is continued for at least about 10 minutes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved green strength, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with fluidized bed system; (b) adding ammonium bicarbonate fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide in amount of about 0.5 to about 7.0 weight percent and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide for at least 10 minutes; (c) aging the blended ammonium bicarbonate binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent to provide for the decomposition of the ammonium bicarbonate; and (d) forming the resultant aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing into a green body.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of preparing an admixture comprising a particulate uranium dioxide and a fugitive binder for producing green pellets free of flaws and having improved green strength, comprising the steps of: (a) fluidizing and agitating a mass of particulate uranium dioxide with fluidized bed system; (b) adding ammonium bicarbonate fugitive binder to the fluidizing and agitating mass of particulate uranium dioxide in amount of about 0.5 to about 7.0 weight percent and blending the binder with the particulate uranium dioxide for at least 10 minutes; (c) aging the blended ammonium bicarbonate binder and particulate uranium dioxide for a period of at least about 72 hours while substantially quiescent to provide for the decomposition of the ammonium bicarbonate; and (d) forming the resultant aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide by pressing into a green body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the pressed green pellet comprising the aged blend of binder and particulate uranium dioxide is sintered.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19, wherein ammonium oxalate is added to the particulate uranium dioxide as a pore former.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-16 | 1986-11-15 | 1987-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-16 | 1990-11-15 | 1991-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-16 | 1994-11-15 | 1995-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |