THE MANUFACTURE OF SUPPLEMENTAL DEPLETED FUEL RODS FOR FCF STARTUP

Approximately 2000 supplemental rods were made for use in EBR-II Fuel Cycle Facility startup tests. They were made in the same manner as Core-I fuel rods but using partially depleted pins instead of fuel pins. A duplex'' or double melting operation was used for Core-I production. The alloys were first melted together and cast in and ingot mold. The ingot was then remelted and injection castto produce fuel pins. In order to simplify the operation, a single melt, or simplex'' operation, alloying and injecting casting in one step was tried. This operation was unsatisfactory because of uncontrollable gas evolution from the ingredients of the charge. The interior parts of the furnace became coated with condensed metal to an extent that threatened mechanical and electrical failure of the furnace. A thermocouple head was developed for use in the injection casting furnace. It had increased accuracy and reliability, and was more easily remotely replaced. The improvements were due to unit construction and improved cold-junction contacts. A statistical analysis was made of a sample of 412 rods. The analysis produced (1) and equation for predicting sodium levels through the selection of sodium loads, and (2) evidence that jacket-preassembly classification is necessary under existing specifications for sodium level. (auth

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE EBR-II INITIAL FUEL LOADING FACILITY

The need for the first core for EBR-11 resulted in the design and construction of the Initial Fuel Loading Facility for this reactor. The plant was built to provide the required initial loading, to train personnel, and to test prototype equipment for the remote reprocessing of fuel materials in the EBR- II Fuel Cycle Facility. The facilities include: remotely manipulated melting, casting, and pin processing equipment, a degreaser, hoods and their atmospheric control system, a gas-purification system, fuelelement-assembly equipment, mold- preparation and balance room, bonding furnaces, a maintenance shop, and a change area. (auth

THE FACILITY 350 HELIUM-ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM. Final Report, Metallurgy Division Program 1.5.5

The He atmosphere system in Argonne's Facility 350 is described in detail. The system is straightforward, employing drying and carbon towers for the removal of moisture, oxygen, and other impurities. The bulk of the 15,000 ft/ sup 3/ of He atmosphere is continuously recirculated at nearly atmospheric pressure. Purification is accomplished at 140 psig on a portion of the gas that is passed through the drying tower at room temperature and the carbon towers at -- 46 deg C (--50 deg F). The operation is continuous, requiring a minimum of maintenance and operational manpower. The He atmosphere is supplied to the glove- boxes with impurity levels below 3,000 ppm nitrogen, 1,000 ppm oxygen, and 50 ppm moisture. Such purity levels prevent oxidation and combustion of the Pu materials being processed. Experimental data concerning the adsorption of oxygen from He by activated carbon over a range of temperature and pressure conditions are reported. (auth

FABRICATION OF EBR-II, CORE-I FUEL PINS

A total of 11,117 enriched uranium-5 wt.% fissium alloy fuel pins was manufactured for EBR-II, Core I. These were made from a synthetic fission product alloy of nonradioactive elements, natural uranium, and enriched uranium. The material was supplied as precast billets. The manufacturing methods were developed for the EBR-III Fuel Cycle Facility. Experimental refabrication equipment was used to production test both the methods and the equipment. The billets were induction melted and pressure cast into precision-bore, high-silica glass molds in batches of 90 to 160. The number of molds used was adjusted according to batch weight. After casting, the molds were broken away and the castings were fed into a pin-process and inspection machine. Both ends were sheared from the castings to produce finished pins measuring 0.144 in. in diameter by 14.22 in. long. The pins were inspected for diameter, porosity, weight, and length. Rejected pins and sheared ends were broken into short lengths and returned for consolidation. Acceptable fuel pins were sealed and sodium bonded in stainless steel jackets, and assembled into Core-I fuel elements. (auth

FABRICATION OF EBR-II, CORE I FUEL ELEMENTS

Activities in a program to assemble and test jacketed fuel rods and multi-rod fuel rod assemblies for EBR-II are reported. Other work is reported on evaluation of the manufacturing techniques proposed for the EBR-II cycle in a sustained operation and on remotely operable equipment under production conditions. Data on fabrication and assembly of fuel rods and assemblies are included. A total of 10,781 fully inspected fuel rods were fabricated for EBR-II core by processes adaptable to remote operation. (J.R.D.