Nuclear Fuel Fabrication for Commercial Electric Power Generation

The demands for electrical power generation capacity have increased significantly in recent years. This paper covers the manufacturing of uranium dioxide nuclear fuel (UO2), for use in commercial nuclear reactors presently used for electric power generation. It explains in detail, the manufacturing and processing steps associated with the conversion of uranium hexafluoride gas into UO2; the compacting of UO2 pellets and the assembly of fuel rods and fuel assemblies. This paper can be described as a walking tour through a typical nuclear fuel fabrication plant.