PREPARATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS-COOLED REACTOR FUEL ELEMENT

摘要

This invention relates to an improved method for the preparation of fuel rods for a high temperature, gas-cooled reactor. By carbonizing the fuel rods in a pressurized autoclave which maintains a compressive stress on the fuel particles until the matrix strength is reduced, a reduction in the degree of internal stress occurs in the body of the fuel rods resulting in a reduced incidence of rupture of the pyrolytic-carbon coatings on each fuel microsphere. In addition, the pitch coke yield of the fuel rods obtained by the present method is about three times that normally obtained in rods carbonized in packed Al2O3 powder, and about 1-1/2 to 2 times that obtained when carbonizing in graphite tubes at atmospheric pressure.