Patent ID: 7070717

Claim:
Process for fabricating mixed oxide (U,Pu)O 2 nuclear fuel from weapon originating plutonium oxide (W—PuO 2 ), including: a process for fabricating MOX fuel pellets including: a first blending ( 1 ) of dry processed W—PuO 2 with dry processed MOX scrap and possibly uranium oxide powder, a micronization ( 2 ) and a forced sieving ( 3 ) of this first blend, a second blending and a mixing ( 4 ) of the micronized and sieved first blend with uranium oxide powder, an additive addition ( 5 ) and a pelletizing ( 6 ) of this mixed second blend, a sintering ( 7 ) of the resulting pellets, and a dry processing of W—PuO 2 powder including: a blending ( 11 ) of the W—PuO 2 powder with one or the other or both following materials: uranium oxide powder and/or dry processed MOX scrap, a micronization ( 12 ) of this blend, a compaction ( 13 ) of this micronized blend into tablets, a heat treatment ( 14 ) in reducing atmosphere of these tablets that are meant, after mechanical preparation ( 15 ), to be mixed into the first blending used in the above mentioned MOX fuel pellet fabrication, and a dry processing of MOX fabrication scrap including: a blending ( 21 ) of MOX scrap powder or crushed MOX scrap pellets, with uncontrolled impurity content, uncontrolled granulometry or uncontrolled sinterability, a micronization ( 22 ) of this blend, a compaction ( 23 ) of this micronized blend into tablets, a heat treatment ( 24 ) in reducing atmosphere of these tablets that are meant, after mechanical preparation ( 15 ), to be mixed into said first blending used in the MOX fuel pellet fabrication.