2007 International RERTR Meeting

Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the Meeting

Current Status of U₃Si₂ Fuel Elements Fabrication in Brazil

M. Durazzo, E.F. Urano de Carvalho, A.M. Saliba-Silva, J.A.B Souza
Centro do Combustível Nuclear Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN - CNEN/SP
Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242 - Cidade Universitária - CEP 05508-000, São Paulo - SP - Brasil

and

H.G. Riella
Departamento de Engenharia Química Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina - SC - Brasil

ABSTRACT

IPEN has been working for increasing radioisotope production in order to supply the expanding demand for radiopharmaceutical medicines requested by the Brazilian welfare. To reach this objective, the IEA-R1 research reactor power capacity was recently increased from 2 MW to 4 MW. Since 1988 IPEN has been manufacturing its own fuel element, initially based on U₃O₈-Al dispersion fuel plates with 2.3 gU/cm³. To support the reactor power increase, higher uranium density in the fuel plate meat had to be achieved for better irradiation flux and also to minimize the irradiated fuel elements to be stored. Uranium silicide was the chosen option and the fuel fabrication development started with the support of the IAEA BRA/4/047 Technical Cooperation Project. This paper describes the results of this program and the current status of silicide fuel fabrication and its qualification.

 

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