Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2000 International RERTR Meeting

U-7MO QUALIFICATION AT BWX TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED

Brett Pace and Glenn Gale
Research/Test Reactors and Targets, RTRT

ABSTRACT

BWX Technologies Incorporated (BWXT) is in the process of qualifying the alloy U-7Mo using low enriched uranium for use in low to high flux research reactors. This is a cooperative effort with the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program and includes Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), The Petten HFR Reactor, the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), and BWXT.  BWXT is responsible for the fabrication of two Petten fuel elements containing LEU U-7Mo with a loading of 6 gU/cc.  To date, BWXT has successfully fabricated 6 gU/cc fuel plates using depleted uranium supplied by KAERI.  The use of existing equipment and methods worked well for the processing of new atomized U-7Mo fuel.  In addition, the processing of atomized fuel appears to be beneficial to production efficiency.  This paper will evaluate the successes and challenges encountered and expected during the on-going qualification effort.

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