簡素化ペレット法MOX原料粉末の流動性評価への振動細管法の適用性検討

Feasibility study on particle flowability evaluation in simplified MOX pellet fabrication process using vibrating tube method

石井 克典 ; 鈴木 政浩 ; 山本 琢磨; 木原 義之; 安田 正俊*; 松坂 修二*

Ishii, Katsunori; Suzuki, Masahiro; Yamamoto, Takuma; Kihara, Yoshiyuki; Yasuda, Masatoshi*; Matsusaka, Shuji*

ペレット燃料製造に用いるMOX粒子の流動性評価への、振動細管法の適用性評価試験を実施した。本実験では、数百ミクロンの直径のジルコニア粒子を模擬粒子として使用した。サンプルとなる粒子は、異なる粒子径,異なる形状を有する粒子を混合して準備した。実験の結果、微細粒子を除去することは、粒子表面の機械的処理よりも、流動性の向上に有益であることがわかった。さらに、振動細管法は、Carrの流動性指数による方法と比較して、粒子流動性の違いを、より簡便かつ容易に識別できることがわかった。

Particle flowability test using a vibrating tube with a tapered end was carried out to evaluate the applicability of this method to the analysis of MOX particles for nuclear fuel pellet fabrication. In this experiment, zirconia particles were used as model particles, which are less than several hundred micrometers in diameter. The sample particles were prepared by mixing the particles with different sizes, whose shape and surface state were changed by a mechanical treatment. The experimental results showed that the removal of smaller particles is more effective than the mechanical surface treatment to improve the flowability. Furthermore, it was found that the vibrating tube method can identify the difference of the particle flowability more easily and clearly than the method based on Carr's flowability index.