SiC matrix fuel cladding tube with spark plasma sintered end plugs

US9455053B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Westinghouse Electric Company LLC · US
• KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA AKA Toshiba Corporation · JP

Inventors

• Peng Xu · Guilderland, US
• Edward J. Lahoda · Wilkinsburg, US
• Lars Hallstadius · Visby, SE
• Joon Hyung Choi · Lexington, US
• Shinichi Higuchi · Rifu, JP
• Fumihisa Kano · Oyama, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 16, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2016
• Expiry date: Jul 2, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/30
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of providing an end-capped tubular ceramic composite for containing nuclear fuel (34) in a nuclear reactor involves the steps of providing a tubular ceramic composite (40), providing at least one end plug (14, 46, 48), applying (42) the at least one end plug material to the ends of the tubular ceramic composite, applying electrodes to the end plug and tubular ceramic composite and applying current in a plasma sintering means (10, 50) to provide a hermetically sealed tube (52). The invention also provides a sealed tube made by this method.