Development of pressing machine with a die wall lubrication system for the simplified MOX pellet fabrication method in the FaCT project

Sudo, Katsuo ; Takano, Tatsuo; Takeuchi, Kentaro ; Kihara, Yoshiyuki; Kato, Masato   

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been contracted to advance the Fast Reactor Cycle Technology Development project. As one part of the project, a simplified MOX pellet fabrication method has been developed for fast reactor fuels. In previous reports, feasibility of a simplified MOX pellet fabrication method was confirmed through hot and cold laboratory-scale experiments. The die wall lubrication pressing technology was one of the important technologies included in the development of the simplified MOX pellet fabrication method. In the work described here, a pressing machine with a die wall lubrication system was developed, and MOX pellet fabrication experiments were carried out on the kilogram MOX scale.