Nuclear Fuel Pebble and Method of Manufacturing the Same

摘要

A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements may include: forming a graphite base portion of the fuel element; depositing a first layer of graphite spheres on the base portion; depositing a first layer of fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles on the first layer of graphite spheres; forming a second layer of graphite spheres on the first layer of particles; depositing a second layer of fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles on the second layer of graphite spheres; and forming a graphite cap portion of the fuel element, wherein, adjacent fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles of the first layer are spaced apart by substantially the same distance, and adjacent fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles of the second layer are spaced apart by substantially the same distance. The fuel element may be a spherical fuel pebble. The fuel particles may be tri-structural-isotropic (TRISO) particles without an overcoat.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a fuel element configured for use in a high-temperature gas cooled reactor core, the method comprising:
forming a graphite base portion of the fuel element; forming a fuel zone of the fuel element, comprising:
forming a first graphite layer comprising graphite spheres on the base portion;depositing a first layer of particles on the first graphite layer controlling positioning of each particle within the first layer of particles;forming a second graphite layer comprising graphite spheres on the first layer of particles; anddepositing a second layer of particles on the second graphite layer controlling positioning of each particle within the second layer of particle; and forming a graphite cap portion of the fuel element, wherein the graphite spheres and the particles are similar in size.