Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for manufacturing oxide fuel pellets, the method comprising:(step 1) preparing nuclear fuel powder containing uranium dioxide (UO2+x, x=0 to 0.20);(step 2) compacting the nuclear fuel powder prepared in step 1 to manufacture green pellets;(step 3) sintering the green pellets manufactured in step 2 at a temperature of about 1,200° C. to about 1,400° C. by using an atmosphere gas; and(step 4) reducing the green pellets sintered in step 3 at a temperature of about 800° C. to about 1,000° C. by using a reducing atmosphere gas. 2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nuclear fuel powder in step 1 further contains gadolinia (Gd2O3) or plutonium oxide (PuO2). 3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the manufacturing of the green pellets in step 2 is performed under a compaction pressure of about 100 MPa to about 500 MPa. 4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the manufacturing of the green pellets in step 2 is performed under a compaction pressure of about 150 MPa to about 450 MPa. 5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the atmosphere gas in step 3 comprises at least one kind of compound selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. 6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sintering in step 3 is performed for about 2 hours to about 8 hours. 7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sintering in step 3 is performed for about 2 hours to about 5 hours. 8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the atmosphere gas in step 4 comprises a hydrogen gas. 9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reducing in step 4 is performed for about 1 hour to about 5 hours. 10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sintering and reducing in steps 3 and 4 are continuously performed.