Comparison of gelation techniques for UO2 and UCO fuel kernels

作者：Wayne Arthur Boyes, D. Boyes, Johan F. Slabber, Georg Braehler, K. Froschauer, Carl Reiser · 发表于：Nuclear Engineering and Design · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114277 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Nuclear Materials and Properties、Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation、Crystallization and Solubility Studies

Most HTGR reactors being designed and developed all over the world will utilise High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel cycles (≤20 wt% U-235) either in a UO 2 or UCO TRISO fuel form. There are two manufacturing routes to produce the fuel kernels: the External Gelation (German) process, which was adopted by the Chinese and applied to UO 2 fuel forms, and the Internal Gelation (American) process mostly applied to UCO fuel forms. China has played a pivotal role in advancing the industrial-scale external gelation process, particularly in the field of nuclear fuel fabrication for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. A key milestone is the commercial production line at China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Northern Nuclear Fuel, which can produce up to 300,000 spherical fuel elements annually, utilising the external gelation process for kernel fabrication. This facility reflects not only China’s commitment to nuclear innovation but also its success in scaling up the external gelation process to meet commercial production demands. Significant advancements have been made in optimizing sol–gel chemistry, improving microsphere sphericity and uniformity, and enhancing process automation and quality control, which have collectively increased efficiency and reliability. Furthermore, the 2023 commissioning of China’s HTR-PM (High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor − Pebble-bed Module) demonstration reactor represents a landmark achievement, as it is the world’s first commercial reac...