Document Type

Annual Report

Publication Date

8-31-2002

First page number:

1

Last page number:

24

Abstract

The project objective is the design and evaluation of manufacturing processes for transmuter fuel fabrication. The large-scale deployment of remote fabrication and refabrication processes will be required for all transmutation scenarios. Current program emphasis is on a five-year effort to determine the feasibility of transmutation as a technology to limit the need for repository storage of spent commercial fuel. The evaluation of the fabrication processes will create a decision support data base to document design, operations, and costs. Fabrication processes required for different fuel types differ in terms of equipment types, throughput, and cost. The year 1 project was focused on collecting information on existing technologies, equipment costs, and material throughput. Another aspect during year 1 has been the assessment of robotic technology and robot supervision and control, and the simulation of material handling operations using 3D simulation tools with view towards the development of a fully automated and reliable, autonomous manufacturing process. Preliminary estimates of differential cost implications of various fuel choices have been developed.

Keywords

Nuclear fuel rods – Design and construction; Manipulators (Mechanism); Robots; Industrial – Control systems

Controlled Subject

Nuclear engineering; Nuclear fuels; Robots

Disciplines

Nuclear Engineering | Robotics

File Format

pdf

File Size

595 KB

Language

English

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