Methods for preparation and production of raw materials to make gadolinium oxide pellets used in composite uranium-gadolinium fuel production

Abstract

А process for producing an effective composite uranium-gadolinium fuel was developed in the laboratory. This fuel will help to improve technical and economic performance of nuclear power plants. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, the implementation of the proposed method in a manufacturing environment was substantiated. Methods for preparation and production of the raw materials for the fabrication of gadolinium oxide were described. The essential characteristics of promising composite uraniumgadolinium fuel pills were defined experimentally. Based on these characteristics, the final specifications for the fuel pills were formulated.