Seversk Technological Institute of National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”

I. V. Vasilkov, Postgraduate Student

V. P. Pishchulin, Professor, e-mail: pischulin@ssti.ru

F. V. Makarov, Head of Department

In the given paper we have presented the technical justification and choice of high-density nuclear fuel for dispersive thermionic fuel elements (TFEs) in research reactors on the base of uranium and molybdenum alloy. The necessity of extracting the granules from uranium and molybdenum alloy and their return for further production of the TFEs was shown. The matters of extracting the uranium and molybdenum granules from the worked-out fuel compositions containing dispersion of fissile materials in aluminum matrix were thoroughly considered. Alkaline processing during nuclear fuel regeneration from different types of return materials is described. We worked out the technology and instrumental and technological scheme for extracting granules of the uranium and molybdenum alloy from aluminum matrix. Then it was found out the consequence of operations of the return materials processing for the extracting granules of the nuclear fuel. The technology of nuclear fuel regeneration was offered and tested in the production conditions, and optimal conditions of regeneration processes were determined. According to the data of electronic and scanning microscopy as well as those of micro sounder X-ray spectral analysis the granules of nuclear fuel meet the requirements to the nuclear fuel from U—9% Мо alloy. They can be repeatedly used for the dispersive TWELL production. The process of usage and extracting the reverse granules was tested in production conditions five times.

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