초록 ▼

Coated nuclear fuel particles are made by first pyrolytically depositing low density carbon onto fuel cores and thereafter depositing a fission-product retentive, higher density exterior coating. In the improvement, cores of uranium, thorium or plutonium oxides are coated by co-depositing silicon ca

Coated nuclear fuel particles are made by first pyrolytically depositing low density carbon onto fuel cores and thereafter depositing a fission-product retentive, higher density exterior coating. In the improvement, cores of uranium, thorium or plutonium oxides are coated by co-depositing silicon carbide or zirconium carbide along with the low density pyrocarbon to create a uniform dispersion. Silicon or zirconium is deposited in an amount equal to at least about one atom for each fission anticipated during the fuel lifetime.

대표청구항 ▼

A nuclear fuel particle having a core of nuclear fuel material, a surrounding layer of low density pyrolytic carbon adjacent said core and a continuous layer of higher density material exterior of said low density layer wherein the improvement comprises said core being formed of nuclear fuel selecte

A nuclear fuel particle having a core of nuclear fuel material, a surrounding layer of low density pyrolytic carbon adjacent said core and a continuous layer of higher density material exterior of said low density layer wherein the improvement comprises said core being formed of nuclear fuel selected from the group consisting of uranium oxide, thorium oxide, plutonium oxide and mixtures thereof and therefore being subject to undergo thermal migration and also being subject to undergo the loss of oxygen upon fissioning which forms CO with carbon in said surrounding low density layer and wherein particles of a substance selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium carbide and mixtures thereof are dispersed throughout said low density pyrolytic carbon layer whereby not only is the build-up of carbon monoxide within said high density outer layer effectively counteracted but thermal migration of said core is also reduced to such an extent that the amoeba effect is no longer of consequence during normal fuel life.