초록 ▼

Porous nuclear fuel elements for use in advanced high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR's), and to processes for fabricating them. Advanced uranium bi-carbide, uranium tri-carbide and uranium carbonitride nuclear fuels can be used. These fuels have high melting temperatures, high thermal

Porous nuclear fuel elements for use in advanced high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR's), and to processes for fabricating them. Advanced uranium bi-carbide, uranium tri-carbide and uranium carbonitride nuclear fuels can be used. These fuels have high melting temperatures, high thermal conductivity, and high resistance to erosion by hot hydrogen gas. Tri-carbide fuels, such as (U,Zr,Nb)C, can be fabricated using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to simultaneously deposit each of the three separate carbides, e.g., UC, ZrC, and NbC in a single CVI step. By using CVI, the nuclear fuel may be deposited inside of a highly porous skeletal structure made of, for example, reticulated vitreous carbon foam.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A nuclear fuel element, comprising a porous, open-celled, foam material comprisinga three-dimensional, reticulated network of interconnected hollow tubular structural ligaments, with interconnected pores disposed throughout the network in-between the ligaments;wherein each hol

What is claimed is: 1. A nuclear fuel element, comprising a porous, open-celled, foam material comprisinga three-dimensional, reticulated network of interconnected hollow tubular structural ligaments, with interconnected pores disposed throughout the network in-between the ligaments;wherein each hollow tubular ligament comprises:a continuous ceramic shell made of a uranium tri-carbide nuclear fuel alloy, anda hollow, empty central core space disposed inside of the shell substantially along the entire length of the ligament;wherein the alloy comprises a solid-solution alloy of UC, ZrC, and XC, where X is selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Hf and W;wherein the nuclear fuel element has a total porosity greater than or equal to about 70%; andwherein no underlying reticulated vitreous carbon foam skeleton exists inside of the ligaments.