Device for Producing Nuclear Fuel Pellets and Production Method Applying Such a Device
AssigneeAreva Nc
InventorsRemy Lavoine, Pierre Guelfi, Jean-Luc Pandraud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Production device including a press, a conveyor (4) intended to transport pellets from the press to a sintering area, means (26) for transferring pellets from the press to the conveyor (4), and means for inspecting at least one nuclear fuel pellet at the exit of a press, said inspection means including means (20) for identifying each pellet according to its die of origin.
Claims24
A device for producing nuclear fuel pellets including a press provided with dies, a conveyor intended to transport pellets from the press to a sintering area, means for transferring pellets from the press to the conveyor, and means for inspecting at least one nuclear fuel pellet at the exit of a press, said inspection means including means for identifying each pellet according to its die of origin, said identification means being formed by a succession of housings borne by the surface of the conveyor, and each capable of receiving a pellet, each of the housings being associated with a determined die.
A method for producing nuclear fuel pellets applying the device for producing nuclear fuel pellets including a press provided with dies, a conveyor intended to transport pellets from the press to a sintering area, means for transferring pellets from the press to the conveyor, and means for inspecting at least one nuclear fuel pellet at the exit of a press, said inspection means including means for identifying each pellet according to its die of origin, said identification means being formed by a succession of housings borne by the surface of the conveyor, and each capable of receiving a pellet, each of the housings being associated with a determined die, including the steps of:
- filling the dies with powder,
- pressing the powder,
- transferring the pellets onto the conveyor,
- actuating the conveyor,
- picking up a pellet from a determined die,
- checking proper operation of said predetermined die by inspecting said pellet originating from said die,
- conveying the pellets towards a sintering area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.