Development of nuclear fuel microsphere handling ...

3 4456 0555543 1 OR NL/TM -71 43

Development of Nuclear Fuel M icrosphere H andling Techniques

and Equipment

J. E. Mack R. R. Suchomel P. Angelini

United Siates of America Available from National Technical Information Service

U S Depattment of Comrnerce 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161

NTlS price codes-Printed Copy A01 Microfiche A01 1 I

I_

,

ORNL /TM-7 143 D i s t r i b u t i o n C a t e g o r i e s UC-77, UC-78, UC-79b

C o n t r a c t N o W-7405-eng-26

METALS AND CERAMICS D I V I S I O N

CONSOLIDATED FUEL RECYCLE PROGRAM

Re f a b r i c a t i o n Task 200 : Sphere-Pac Fabr i ca t ion D e v e l o p m e n t (Purchase O r d e r 6 4 3 5 7 A G )

DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR FUEL MICROSPHERE HANDLING TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT

J. E. Mack, R. R. S u c h o m e l , and P. Angelini

Date Published: January 1980

NOTICE This document contains information of a preliminary nature

and was prepared primarily for internal use at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I t is subject to revision or correction and therefore does

not represent a final report.

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY O a k Ridge, Tennessee 37830

opera ted by UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION

f o r the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

3 445b 0555543 1

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

GEL-SPHERE FORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

MICROSPHERE HANDLING TECHNIQUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

MICROSPHERE CHARACTERIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

CONCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

iii

DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR FUEL MICROSPHERE HANDLING TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT

J. E. Mack, R. R. Suchomel, and P. Ange l in i

ABSTRACT

Cons ide rab le p r o g r e s s has been made i n t h e development of microsphere hand l ing t echn iques and equipment f o r n u c l e a r a p p l i c a t i o n s . Work a t Oak Ridge N a t i o n a l Labora to ry wi th m i c r o s p h e r i c a l f u e l forms d a t e s back t o t h e e a r l y s i x t i e s w i th t h e development of t h e so l -ge l process . S ince t h a t t i m e a number of equipment items and systems s p e c i f i c a l l y r e l a t e d t o mic rosphe re h a n d l i n g and c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n have been i d e n t i f i e d and developed f o r e v e n t u a l a p p l i c a t i o n i n a remote r e c y c l e f a c i l i t y . These i n c l u d e p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e p r e s s u r e t r a n s f e r sys t ems , s ample r s , weighers , a b l ende r -d i spense r , and automated d e v i c e s f o r p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n and c r u s h i n g s t r e n g t h a n a l y s i s . The c u r r e n t s t a t u s of t h e s e and o t h e r components and sys tems i s d i scussed .

INTRODUCTION

The u s e of microspheres i n t h e n u c l e a r i n d u s t r y i s n o t new. They are

a n i n t e g r a l p a r t of t h e High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reac to r (HTGR) f u e l

c o n c e p t , and packed beds have been i n v e s t i g a t e d as s u b s t i t u t e s f o r powder-

p e l l e t f u e l s i n o t h e r power r e a ~ t 0 r s . l ~ ~

h a v e a l s o focused on ge l -sphere fo rma t ion and sphere-pac load ing5 ,

f u e l rods .

h a s recognized t h e sphere-pac p rocess because it m i t i g a t e s l o c a l i z e d

c l a d d i n g a t t a c k , r educes fue l - c l add ing mechanical i n t e r a c t i o n , and

improves the rma l conductance. 8-11.

canyons f o r f u e l r e f a b r i c a t i o n h a s gene ra t ed i n t e r e s t i n t h e gel-sphere-

pac p r o c e s s because i t i s i d e a l l y s u i t e d t o remote o p e r a t i o n . I n

a d d i t i o n , ge l - sphe re fo rma t ion has been proposed12 as a method f o r f i x a -

t i o n of h i g h - l e v e l n u c l e a r wastes i n a form amenable t o c o a t i n g , p r e s s i n g ,

o r embedding i n a ceramic mat r ix . Again, t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y of gel-sphere-

pac technology t o remote o p e r a t i o n makes i t a t t r ac t ive f o r f a b r i c a t i o n of

waste forms.

A number of r e c e n t developments

o f

An assessment’ of f u e l concep t s f o r improved f u e l performance

Also, t h e t r e n d toward use of s h i e l d e d

1

2

We w i l l d i s c u s s many of t h e equipment d e s i g n s and t echn iques t h a t

have been developed f o r h a n d l i n g microspheres . Note t h a t t h e b a s i c tech-

n i q u e s are n o t p r o c e s s - s p e c i f i c . Their a d a p t a t i o n t o o t h e r manufac tur ing

p r o c e s s e s where s m a l l s p h e r i c a l p a r t i c l e s must be formed, c h a r a c t e r i z e d ,

t r a n s p o r t e d , and d i spensed i s n o t d i s c u s s e d .

GEL-SPHERE FORMATION

Microspheres are t y p i c a l l y produced by a chemica l g e l a t i o n p r o c e s s ,

such as i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig. 1. I n t h e fo rma t ion of h igh -dens i ty U02

microsphe res , l 3 a n a c i d - d e f i c i e n t u r a n y l n i t r a t e s o l u t i o n i s combined

w i t h g e l a t i o n a d d i t i v e s , such as u r e a and hexamethylene te t ramine (HMTA).

The m i x t u r e i s pumped through a d i s p e r s i o n d e v i c e i n t o a h o t o r g a n i c

l i q u i d , which g e l s t h e d r o p l e t s . The s p h e r e s are t h e n washed, d r i e d ,

c a l c i n e d , and s i n t e r e d i n a r educ ing atmosphere t o o b t a i n s p h e r e s of 99%

t h e o r e t i c a l d e n s i t y .

HEAVY METAL NITRATE GELATION

SOLUTION ADDITIVES SPHERE COLLECTION

ING AND GELATION

FORMING Liauio

r! 1 SPHERE WASHING

OANL-DWG 79~11417A

DRYING

i i 1\11 SPHERE CALCINATION 1 AND SINTERING

TO LOADING ORRATION

6

PI

Fig . 1. Spheres are Formed by a Chemical G e l a t i o n P rocess .

3

Gel-sphere f a b r i c a t i o n h a s s e v e r a l advan tages over powder agglomera-

t i o n f o r remote a p p l i c a t i o n . The former p r o c e s s u s e s l i q u i d s and s p h e r e s

t h a t are e a s i l y t r a n s f e r r e d and handled i n a r e l a t i v e l y d u s t - f r e e manner

because of t h e i r f l uency . The e n t i r e p r o c e s s t a k e s p l a c e w i t h i n a c l o s e d

sys t em, v i r t u a l l y e l i m i n a t i n g t h e sp read of con tamina t ion . No c r u s h i n g

o r g r i n d i n g of the mic rosphe res i s r e q u i r e d . Hence, d u s t i n g and s c r a p

r e c y c l i n g i s minimized. Microsphere f a b r i c a t i o n r e q u i r e s fewer mechani-

c a l l y i n t e n s i v e s t e p s t h a n t h e powder-pel le t p rocess . The r e l a t i v e c l ean -

l i n e s s and s i m p l i c i t y of t h e gel-sphere p r o c e s s shou ld s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce

r a d i a t i o n exposure t o o p e r a t i n g and maintenance p e r s o n n e l i n both c o n t a c t

and remote f a b r i c a t i o n . A s chemat i c of t h e two p r o c e s s e s i s p r e s e n t e d i n

F ig . 2.

MICROSPHERE HANDLING TECHNIQUES

While s i g n i f i c a n t advancements have been made d u r i n g t h e p a s t

40 y e a r s i n commercial material hand l ing equipment, many of t h e b a s i c

ground r u l e s are changed when f i s s i l e o r r a d i o a c t i v e materials are be ing

c o n s i d e r e d . Because of c r i t i c a l i t y and maximum p e r m i s s i b l e dosage

c r i t e r i a , the b a s i c equipment must be s c a l e d down by an o r d e r of

magnitude. Material l o s s o r holdup i n p rocess equipment must be v i r t u a l l y

e l i m i n a t e d t o minimize exposure d u r i n g c o n t a c t o p e r a t i o n s and f a c i l i t a t e

mater ia l a c c o u n t a b i l i t y . Ease of decon tamina t ion and of remote or s e m i -

remote maintenance are c o n s i d e r a t i o n s p e c u l i a r t o hazardous materials.

Consequent ly , o f f - t h e - s h e l f i t e m s o r systems are n o t o f t e n a v a i l a b l e o r

r e q u i r e s i g n i f i c a n t m o d i f i c a t i o n .

Material t r a n s f e r , a c r u c i a l f a c e t of t h e f a b r i c a t i o n p r o c e s s , i s

r e a d i l y accomplished f o r mic rosphe res by pneumatic conveyance. The

p r a c t i c a l i t y of t h i s p r o c e s s was demonstrated i n t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l test

l o 0 p l 4 shown i n Fig. 3 .

s e n s o r s were used t o de t e rmine minimum flow requ i r emen t s and t o e s t a b l i s h

o p e r a t i n g pa rame te r s t h a t minimize material d e g r a d a t i o n and l o s s . Two

p r o t o t y p i c t r a n s f e r systems have been designed and o p e r a t e d i n s u p p o r t

of p r o c e s s development. Each employs a programmable l o g i c c o n t r o l l e r ,

which s i m p l i f i e s o p e r a t o r r equ i r emen t s and p r o v i d e s b u i l t - i n s a f e t y

i n t e r l o c k s .

Data from p r e s s u r e t a p s and p h o t o e l e c t r i c

UNH - f FROM \ \REPRO)

+FEED ADJUSTMENT PRECIPITATION

ORNL-DWG 79-i8564R

POWDER PREPARATION

CENTRIFUGING CALCINATION -

I MILLING COMPACTION GRANULATION HOMCGENIZATION LUBRICANT AND BLENDING BLEND

I PELLET PREPARATION

PRESSING SINTERING GRINDING ROD LOADING

SPHERE FA BR I CAT I ON 1 FEED ADJUSTMENT

SPHERE WASH I NG DRYING CALClNl NG BATCH ROD LOADING FORMING AND SINTERING BLENDING

c

Fig. 2. Processing Steps in Pellet and Particle Fuel Fabrication.

.

EXHAUST TO BUILDING OFFGAS I

FILTER

PHOTO-

COLLECTION HOPPER Y

ORNL-DWG 76-48666R2

8.8rn /

L ,

7

0 DENOTES PRESSURE TAP

A I

71

P- I /

~ , , - - - P R E S S U R E

Im

SUPPLY

Fig. 3 . Operating Parameters were Determined

y 9.5rnrn I D

I I - -c AIR,f4-35kPo L A P , _J AIR +

m R T i c L E s AP! = F+ (&) 1-2 PS

WHERE:p PARTICLE-AIR DENSITY

V = AIR VELOCITY g = GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION

from Test Loop Opera t ion.

6

Development of a s s o c i a t e d material h a n d l i n g equipment i s a l s o w e l l

under way.

f u e l p a r t i c l e s , 1 5 shown i n F ig . 4 , is p r e s e n t l y i n o p e r a t i o n .

p n e u m a t i c a l l y conveyed t h e ba t ch of s p h e r e s i s g r a v i t y f ed i n t o t h e

f u r n a c e through a r emote ly a c t u a t e d b a l l va lve . Use of an o v e r s i z e d ,

f u l l - p o r t v a l v e e l i m i n a t e s seal d e g r a d a t i o n and p a r t i c l e holdup. In add i -

t i o n , p a r t i c l e s a r e never i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h e v a l v e d u r i n g opening o r

c l o s i n g o p e r a t i o n s .

t h e c o a t e d p a r t i c l e b a t c h i s lowered by an e l e v a t o r . The c r u c i b l e is

g rasped and l i f t e d o f f t h e e l e v a t o r by a man ipu la to r , which then retracts

arid dumps t h e b a t c h on to a s c a l p i n g sc reen . The man ipu la to r t hen e i t h e r

r e p l a c e s t h e c r u c i b l e o r r o t a t e s 90" and exchanges i t f o r a new one through

a n a i r l ock . The man ipu la to r i s shown i n Fig. 5.

An un load ing sys tem f o r a ba tch- type f u r n a c e f o r c o a t i n g HTGR

A f t e r be ing

A f t e r t h e f u r n a c e o p e r a t i o n t h e c r u c i b l e c o n t a i n i n g

ORNL-DWG 75-4 5363R2

Fig . 4. Automated Furnace Unloading and Batch Handl ing System.

7

Fig. 5. Manipulator f o r Handling Furnace Crucible.

8

Following the screening operation the batch is pneumatically conveyed

out of the enclosure, maintaining inert atmosphere protection, to a collec- tion hopper.

Fig. 6 . After weighing, the batch falls through a passive sampler. A

representative portion of the batch is dispensed to the sample inspection

system, and the remainder is pneumatically conveyed to rod loading.

The particles are then fed by gravity to a weigher shown in

.

Fig. 6 . Remote Weigher for High Temperature, Radioactive Material (Protective Atmosphere Housing Removed).

9

Although t h e s p e c i a l connec to r s , l i f t i n g b a l e s , and guide f i x t u r e s

needed f o r a t r u l y remote o p e r a t i o n are n o t provided by t h i s eng inee r ing -

scale system, t h e p a r t i c l e hand l ing equipment does meet a l l f u n c t i o n a l

r equ i r emen t s . Through t e s t i n g and o p e r a t i o n of t h e equipment a proven

d e s i g n wi th h i g h r e l i a b i l i t y and low maintenance requi rements w i l l be

a v a i l a b l e f o r f u t u r e p r o t o t y p e development. Th i s f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n system

p e r m i t s e v a l u a t i o n of t h e e f f e c t s of h i g h t empera tu re and i n e r t a tmosphere

on t h e v a r i o u s components.

I n t h e sphere-pac l o a d i n g o p e r a t i o n f o r metal c l a d f u e l r o d s ,

mic rosphe res of two o r more s i z e s are blended t o g e t h e r and compacted i n

t h e f u e l rod by low energy v i b r a t i o n . Fue l smear d e n s i t i e s of up t o 88%

t h e o r e t i c a l d e n s i t y have been achieved. A con t inuous r i n g b l ende r , shown

i n F i g . 7 , w a s developed as both a b l ende r and d i spense r . Par t ic les of

s e v e r a l s i z e s are v o l u m e t r i c a l l y d ispensed by g r a v i t y t o t h e b lender .

They f low down t h e s i d e s of a n i n t e r n a l cone and c o l l e c t a t i t s base i n a

ORNL-DWG 78-14556R

,-FLEXIBLE BAND

-EXIT CHAMBER

lo

F i g . 7. Labora tory-Sac le Continuous Ring Blender-Dispenser.

t rough formed by t h e cone and a v e r t i c a l f l e x i b l e band. A s t h e band is

unwound t h e cone r o t a t e s , and a un i fo rmly mixed blend of p a r t i c l e s i s fed

t o t h e rod a t t h e p o i n t where t h e band leaves t h e cone. The b l ende r has

been s c a l e d up t o a 2 .5 kg c a p a c i t y d e v i c e , shown i n Fig. 8. It i s used

r o u t i n e l y i n suppor t of sphere-pac rod l o a d i n g development t o produce homo-

geneous f u e l beds.

MICROSPHERE CHAKACTEKIZATION

A number of equipment items and systems have a l s o been developed i n

s u p p o r t of microsphere c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n and a n a l y s i s . S ince a n a l y t i c a l

f a c i l i t i e s are t y p i c a l l y s e p a r a t e d from t h e p r o c e s s l i n e , a means f o r

a u t o m a t i c a l l y sampl ing and t r a n s f e r r i n g samples i s r equ i r ed . A l o o s e par-

t i c l e sample t r a n s f e r system was developed t h a t e l i m i n a t e s t h e need f o r

e n c a p s u l a t i o n by e l i m i n a t i n g p a r t i c l e holdup and by minimizing p a r t i c l e

a b r a s i o n and degrada t ion . The f e a s i b i l i t y of t h i s approach w a s a g a i n

e s t a b l i s h e d by o p e r a t i o n of a t es t loop.

A p r o t o t y p i c sys tem i s shown i n Fig. 9. The sample i s d i spensed from

a p a s s i v e s p l i t t e r i n - c e l l t o an " i s o l a t i o n " v a l v e , which i s e s s e n t i a l l y a

r e c e i v i n g v a l v e p r o v i d i n g a three-way sea l between t h e t r a n s f e r l i n e ,

sampler e n c l o s u r e , and c e l l atmosphere. A cyc lone r e c e i v e r w a s des igned

tl3 d i s e n t r a i n t h e p a r t i c l e s from t h e airstream wi thout damage a t t h e

r t w e i v i n g end. A n e g a t i v e p r e s s u r e system was s e l e c t e d t o minimize t h e

p o t e n t i a l f o r o u t l e a k a g e of con tamina t ion s i n c e t h e l i n e s cou ld be run

o u t s i d e t h e h o t c e l l and between a n a l y t i c a l s t a t i o n s .

Development of t h e p a r t i c l e s i z e a n a l y z e r 1 6 and remote weigher have

a l s o been completed. S i z e a n a l y s i s i s based on a l i g h t b lockage t ech -

n ique . The d e v i c e i s c a p a b l e of a u t o m a t i c a l l y s i z i n g and c o u n t i n g each

p a r t i c l e i n t h e sample a t ra tes up t o 100/s . The a n a l y s i s can be per -

formed on p a r t i c l e s as small as 150 u m diam wi th a p r e c i s i o n of 2.5% and

a s l a r g e as 1500 u m w i t h a p r e c i s i o n of 0.5%. S ince t h e a n a l y s i s i s non-

d e s t r u c t i v e and noncontaminat ing (no l i q u i d suspens ion medium r e q u i r e d )

t h e sample i s a v a i l a b l e f o r f u r t h e r c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n .

The remote weigher i s a modi f ied t o r s i o i i ba l ance wi th e x t e r n a l

e l e c t r o n i c c o n t r o l s arid a s p e c i a l l y des igned hopper. A t u b e i s ex tended

i n t o t h e hopper and p a r t i c l e s a re d i spensed t o t h e weigher by g r a v i t y . A

3 0 3 G .rl u G 0 U U

KJ a KJ U

1 2

ORNL-DWG 75-45393

TO COATING FURNACE OR RO FABRICATION

TO VACUUM PUMP AND GLOVE BOX

HOT C E L L OFF GAS

ABSOLUTE FILTER

CYCLONE RECEIVER

SOLATION VALVE

GLOVE BOX

\-TO GLOVE BOX

HOT CELL

Fig . 9. Automated Sample Handl ing and Ana lys i s .

" f l o a t i n g seal" c o n t a c t s t h e hopper t o p as t h e tube i s ex tended t o p reven t

material l o s s . A f t e r l o a d i n g t h e hopper t h e tube i s r e t r a c t e d , and t h e

sample i s weighed i n t h e f r e e - s t a n d i n g hopper. An e lec t r ic motor is then

used t o i n v e r t t h e hopper , which dumps t h e p a r t i c l e s i n t o t h e t r a n s f e r

l i n e . Both t h e p a r t i c l e s i z e a n a l y z e r and weigher have been i n s t a l l e d i n

a g love box, as shown i n F igs . 10 and 11, r e s p e c t i v e l y .

The h e a r t of t h e p a r t i c l e s i z e a n a l y z e r i s t h e r o t a t i n g s i n g u l a r i z e r

drum, shown i n Fig. 12. It extracts one p a r t i c l e a t a t i m e from a sample

hopper and d i s p e n s e s i t f o r a n a l y s i s . This b a s i c concept has been used i n

t h e development of two o t h e r dev ices . A sample s u b d i v i d e r w a s des igned t o

p r o v i d e small, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e subsamples. A s i n g u l a r i z e r moves p a r t i c l e s

f rom a hopper t o pocke t s i n a r o t a t i n g t u r n t a b l e . Subsamples accumula te

i n each pocket u n t i l t h e e n t i r e sample i s d ispensed . Subd iv id ing pe rmi t s

s e v e r a l d e s t r u c t i v e a n a l y s e s t o be performed on a s i n g l e sample p u l l e d

Fig. 10. Glove Box I n s t a l l a t i o n of Automatic P a r t i c l e S i z e Analyzer.

14

from t h e p rocess l i n e . It a l s o p rov ides t h e smallest amount of material

r e q u i r e d f o r t h e a n a l y s i s by i t s recombinate and r e s u b d i v i d i n g c a p a b i l i -

t ies . Th i s minimizes both s c r a p material and r a d i a t i o n l e v e l s a t t h e ana-

l y t i c a l s t a t i o n s . The s u b d i v i d e r , shown i n F i g . 13, w a s found t o be

s u p e r i o r t o c o n v e n t i o n a l r i f f l i n g t echn iques i n m a i n t a i n i n g t r u e represen-

t a b i l i t y of t h e p a r e n t sample i n t h e small subsamples.

An automated p a r t i c l e c r u s h i n g s t r e n g t h a n a l y z e r is c u r r e n t l y under

development. It a l s o u s e s t h e s i n g u l a r i z e r t o supp ly i n d i v i d u a l p a r t i c l e s

t o a c r u s h i n g s t a g e . The p a r t i c l e i s crushed between two f l a t p l a t e s , and

t h e f o r c e r e q u i r e d t o i n i t i a t e f r a c t u r e i s recorded . A multiprogrammer

c o n t r o l s v a l v e sequencing and swi t ch ing , wh i l e a desk-top c a l c u l a t o r

a c q u i r e s d a t a from t h e load ce l l .

Conceptua l d e s i g n of a sample hand l ing system f o r r e c e i v i n g , encap-

s u l a t i n g , i d e n t i f y i n g , and t r a n s f e r r i n g a r c h i v e samples t o s t o r a g e has

been completed. The system is shown i n F i g . 1 4 . I r r a d i a t i o n of t h e bar-

code r e a d e r i n d i c a t e d it would wi ths t and doses as h i g h as 300 g r a y (30,000

r a d ) and s t i l l make v a l i d r ead ings .

CONCLUSIONS

Development of t echn iques and equipment f o r hand l ing , c h a r a c t e r i z i n g ,

and d i s p e n s i n g s p h e r i c a l p a r t i c l e s has demonstrated t h e f e a s i b i l i t y of

t h i s approach f o r n u c l e a r a p p l i c a t i o n s . When t h e s e t echn iques are com-

b ined w i t h e x i s t i n g p r o c e s s e s f o r producing s m a l l s p h e r e s , t h e y open t h e

door t o a l t e r n a t e p r o c e s s e s f o r f u e l e lement f a b r i c a t i o n ' ' o r waste f i x a -

t i o n . The t echn iques and equipment are des igned f o r or are e a s i l y adap-

t a b l e t o remote o p e r a t i o n , t h u s p rov id ing a means f o r r educ ing both

o p e r a t i n g pe r sonne l exposure and t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r material d i v e r s i o n

o r l o s s .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The a u t h o r s would l i k e t o thank a l l of t h e f o l l o w i n g t e c h n i c i a n s

f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s a t t h e ground l e v e l of equipment development:

L. J. Turner , W. H. E l l i o t t , Jr., G. F. Galloway, C. E. DeVore, S. W. Cook,

1 7

Fig. 1 3 . Singularizer and Turntable Divide Sample into Represen- :at ive Subsamples.

18

ORNL-DWG 78-16675

Fig . 14. Sample Handl ing Subsystem Remotely Rece ives , E n c a p s u l a t e s , and I d e n t i f i e s P a r t i c l e Samples.

and J. C. McLaughlin. We would a l s o l i k e t o thank t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s i g n

e n g i n e e r s and d ra f t smen i n General Eng inee r ing f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e :

J. L. Heck, Jr., M. G. Wi l l ey , M. K. P r e s t o n , L. C. Hensley, and

J. M. Hackworth. B. J. Bo l f ing of t h e I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n and C o n t r o l s

D i v i s i o n i s a l s o t o be commended f o r h i s work wi th t h e remote f u r n a c e

u n l o a d i n g equipment. Comments and s u g g e s t i o n s from t e c h n i c a l reviewers - S. E. Dismuke, A. R. Olsen, and L. C. W i l l i a m s - as w e l l as t e c h n i c a l

e d i t i n g by B. G. Ashdown are g r a t e f u l l y acknowledged. P r e p a r a t i o n of t h e

f i n a l r e p o r t by R. L. C a s t l e b e r r y and S. G. Frykman is a l s o a p p r e c i a t e d .

REFERENCES

1. J. B. McBride, comp., Preparation of U02 Microspheres by the Sol-Gel Technique, ORNL-3874 (Februa ry 1966).

1 9

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C. C. H a w s , B. C. Finney, and W. D. Bond, Engineering-Scale Demonstration of the Sol-Gel Process, ORNL-4544 (May 1971).

F. G. K i t t s , R. B. F i t t s , and A. R. Olsen, "Sol-Gel Urania-Plutonia

Microsphere P r e p a r a t i o n and F a b r i c a t i o n i n t o Fue l Rods," pp. 195-210

i n Intern. Symp. Plutonium Fuels Technol., Scottsdale, Ariz., 1967,

Nucl. Met. 13 , K. E . Horton, R. E. Macherey, and R. J. A l l i o , Eds. ,

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N. Y., 1968.

A. L. L o t t s , comp., Fast Breeder Reactor Oxide Fuels Development - Final Report, ORNL-4901 (November 1973).

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p r e p a r a t i o n ) .

W. J. B a i l e y and J. 0. Barner , "Assessment of Fue l Concepts ," Fuel Performance Improvement Program, COO-4066-3, PNL-2490, UC-78

( J a n u a r y 1978) pp. 30-41.

R. B. F i t t s and F. L. Miller, "Ana lys i s and Performance of

Ins t rumen ted F u e l P i n s , " Trans. Am. Nuel. SOC. 1 5 ( 1 ) : 180 (1972).

R. B. F i t t s and F. L. Miller, "A Comparison of Sphere-Pac and P e l l e t

(U,Pu)O2 F u e l Pins in Low-Burnup Ins t rumen ted I r r a d i a t i o n T e s t s , "

Nucl. Technol. 21: 26-38 (1974).

W. J. Lackey and J. E. S e l l e , comps., Assessment of Gel-Sphere-Pac Fuel f o r Fast Breeder Reactors, ORNL-5468 (October 1978) pg. 146.

R. L. B e a t t y , R. E. Norman, and K. J. Notz, comps., Gel-Sphere-Pac Fuel f o r Thermal Reactors -Assessment of Fabrication Technology and Irradiat ion Performance, ORNL-5469 (November 1979) .

W. J. Lackey, R. E. Blanco, and A. L. L o t t s , " A p p l i c a t i o n of Sol-Gel

Technology t o F i x a t i o n of Nuclear Reac to r Waste," Technical n o t e

submi t t ed t o Nuclear TechnoZogy. W. J. Lackey and J. E. S e l l e , comps., Assessment of Gel-Sphere-Pac Fuel f o r Fast Breeder Reactors, ORNL-5468, (Oc tobe r 1978) pp. 10-103.

20

14. J. E. Mack and D. R. Johnson, Development of a Pneumatic Transfer System fo r HTGR Recycle Fuel Particles, ORNLITM-6169,

( F e b r u a r y 1978) pp. 2-10.

15. R. R. Suchomel, D. P. S t i n t o n , M. K. P r e s t o n , J. L. Heck, B. J. B o l f i n g ,

and W. J. Lackey, Design and Operation of Equipmazt Used to Develop Remote Coating Capability f o r HTGR Fuel Particles, ORNL/TM-6581

(December 1978).

16. J. E. Mack and W. H. Pechin , Automatic Particle Size Analysis of HTGR Recycle Fuel, ORNL/TM-5907 (September 1977).

17. A. R. Olsen and R. R. J u d k i n s , comps., Gel-Sphere-Pac Reactor Fuel Fabrication and Its Application to a Variety of Fuels, ORNL/TM-6924

(in p r e s s ) .

21

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1-2. 3.

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8-12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

26-28. 29. 30. 31. 32.

C e n t r a l Research L i b r a r y 33. Document Reference S e c t i o n 34. Labora to ry Records Department 35. Labora to ry Records, ORNL RC 36. ORNL P a t e n t S e c t i o n 37-41. P. Ange l in i 42. R. L. B e a t t y 43. A. J. Caputo 44. J. A. Ca rpen te r , Jr. 45. D. A. Costanzo 46. R. G. Donnelly 47. U r i G a t 48. R. W. Glass 49. R. J. Gray 50. P. A. Haas 51.

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