• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2004

The melting temperatures of $UO_2,\;UO_2-6wt\%Gd_{2}O_3,\;UO_2-12wt\%Gd_{2}O_3,\;UO_2-2wt\%Er_{2}O_3,\;and\;UO_2-4wt\%Er_{2}O_3$ fuels were measured. Fuel materials were loaded in a tungsten capsule of which shape met the black body condition. The melting temperature was measured by the thermal arrest method during heating of the capsule in an induction furnace. The measured melting temperature of $UO_2$ fuel was $2815{\pm}20^{\circ}C$. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of $UO_2-Gd_{2}O_3\;and\;UO_2-Er_{2}O_3$ had also been measured, and it was observed that the solidus temperatures of them were lower than the liquidus temperature by $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. Measured melting temperatures of $UO_2,\;UO_2-Gd_{2}O_3\;and\;UO_2-Er_{2}O_3$ fuels were as follows:

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2008

High bum-up fuel technology has been developed through a national R&D program, which covers key technology areas such as claddings, $UO_2$ pellets, spacer grids, performance code, and fuel assembly tests. New cladding alloys were developed through alloy designs, tube fabrication, out-of-pile test and in-reactor test. The new Zr-Nb tubes are found to be much better in their corrosion resistance and creep strength than the Zircaloy-4 tube, owing to an optimized composition and heat treatment of the new Zr-Nb alloys. A new fabrication technology for large grain $UO_2$ pellets was developed using various uranium oxide seeds and a micro-doping of Al. The uranium oxide seeds, which were added to $UO_2$ powder, were prepared by oxidizing and heat-treating scrap $UO_2$ pellets. A $UO_2$ pellet containing tungsten channels was fabricated for a thermal conductivity enhancement. For the fuel performance analysis, new high burnup models were developed and implemented in a code. This code was verified by an international database and our own database. The developed spacer grid has two features of contoured contact spring and hybrid mixing vanes. Mechanical and hydraulic tests showed that the spacer grid is superior in its rodsupporting, wear resistance and CHF performance. Finally, fuel assembly test technology was also developed. Facilities for mechanical and thermal hydraulic tests were constructed and are now in operation. Several achievements are to be utilized soon by the Korea Nuclear Fuel and thereby contribute to the economy and safety of PWR fuel in Korea

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2007

Densification and grain growth have been investigated in 5 wt% $U_3O_8$ seeded $UO_2$ and compared with those of the common $UO_2$ pellet. $UO_2$ compacts and $U_3O_8$ seeded $UO_2$ compacts were sintered at $1300{\sim}1700^{\circ}C$ for 0 h to 4 h. Density and grain size of the sintered pellets were measured by the water immersion method and the image analyzer, respectively. The seeded pellet has a slightly lower density during the intermediate sintering stage. However, the difference of density between two pellets decreases to about 0.5%TD with increasing the sintering temperature. The grain size of the two pellets is similar until $1600^{\circ}C$ but that of the seeded pellet rapidly increases with increasing the sintering temperature.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.533-541
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• 2020

UO₂ kernels, a key component of fuel elements for high temperature gas cooled reactors, have usually been prepared by sol-gel methods. Sol-gel processes have a number of advantages, such as simple processes and facilities, and higher sphericity and density. In this study, to produce 900 ㎛-sized UO₂ particles using an external gelation process, contact length extension of the NH₃ gas of the broth droplets pass and the improvement of the gelation device capable of spraying 14 M-NH₄OH solution are used to form 3,000 ㎛-sized liquid droplets. To produce high-sphericity and high-density UO₂ particles, HMTA, which promotes the gelation reaction in the uranium broth solution, is added to diffuse ammonium ions from the outside of the gelation solution during the aging process and generate ammonium ions from the inside of the ADU gel particles. Sufficient gelation inside of ADU gel particles is achieved, and the density of the UO₂ spheres that undergo the subsequent treatment is 10.78 g/㎤; the sphericity is analyzed and found to be 0.948, indicating good experimental results.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

The effects of thermal treatment conditions on ADU (ammonium diuranate) prepared by SOL-GEL method, so-called GSP (Gel supported precipitation) process, were investigated for $UO_2$ kernel preparation. In this study, ADU compound particles were calcined to $UO_3$ particles in air and Ar atmospheres, and these $UO_3$ particles were reduced and sintered in 4%-$H_2$/Ar. During the thermal calcining treatment in air, ADU compound was slightly decomposed, and then converted to $UO_3$ phases at $500^{\circ}C$. At $600^{\circ}C$, the $U_3O_8$ phase appeared together with $UO_3$. After sintering of theses particles, the uranium oxide phases were reduced to a stoichiometric $UO_2$. As a result of the calcining treatment in Ar, more reduced-form of uranium oxide was observed than that treated in air atmosphere by XRD analysis. The final phases of these particles were estimated as a mixture of $U_3O_7$ and $U_4O_9$.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

This paper presents the quantitative analysis results of research on the burnup effect on the nuclear fuel cycle cost of BeO-$UO_2$ fuel. As a result of this analysis, if the burnup is 60 MWD/kg, which is the limit under South Korean regulations, the nuclear fuel cycle cost is 4.47 mills/kWh at 4.8wt% of Be content for the BeO-$UO_2$ fuel. It is, however, reduced to 3.70 mills/kWh at 5.4wt% of Be content if the burnup is 75MWD/kg. Therefore, it seems very advantageous, in terms of the economic aspect, to develop BeO-$UO_2$ fuel, which does not have any technical problem with its safety and is a high burnup & long life cycle nuclear fuel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.391-392
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.631-636
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• 1996

The powder characteristics of UO2 via AUC prepared by precipitation from a UN with AC soiution produced from nuclear fuel powder conversion plant and that of the existing facility were compared. Mean particle size of AUC powder was decreased and agglomerates were much occured in case of using the AC solution that that of the gases but other properties such as particle size distribution and shape of particle are thought to be similarly. In compaction of UO2 powder the breaking pressur of agglomerated UO2 powder and the sintered density of final UO2 pellet from AC solution were measured 1.45$\times$108 N/m2 and 10.52 g/cc, These values could be used in nuclear fuel powder fabrication process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.393-394
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2000

The sintering characteristics of PVA-Al(III) complex added $UO_2$ pellet and AlOOH added $UO_2$pellet were compared. The major phase of PVA-Al(III) complex and AlOOH decomposed at $1000^{\circ}C$ in $H_2$atmosphere was $\theta-Al_2O_3$. Compared with the apparent density of pure $UO_2$, that of AlOOH added $UO_2$ powder was higher but that of PVA-Al(III) complex was lower. the densification of AlOOH added $UO_2$ pellet was initiated at about $800^{\circ}C$, the densification of PVA-Al(III) complex added $UO_2$ pellet was initiated at about $900^{\circ}C$ respectively. In a view of pore size distribution, the PVA-Al(III) complex added $UO_2$ pellet appeared as monomodal type, whereas the AlOOH added $UO_2$ pellet appeared as bimodal type. The grain size of AlOOH added $UO_2$ pellet was about $13\mu\textrm{m}$ but the grain size of PVA-Al(III) complex added $UO_2$ pellet was increased up to about $36\mu\textrm{m}$.