Abstract: Sodium silicate (waterglass) is added to a waste process stream containing metal to form a waterglass sludge containing the metal contaminants. The waterglass sludge matrixed with the metal is removed from the stream. Thereafter, a caustic is added to the separated waterglass sludge which dissolves the sodium silicate, leaving a metal solid in suspension. The sodium silicate solution is filtered off and recycled for use in the waterglass precipitation process. The metal solid remains and concentrated acid is added to form a metallic acid solution which is substantially free of silicates. This solution may then be treated by solvent extraction or other means to recover the metal. The process provides substantial metal recovery from the process waste stream and eliminates the need for burial of the waste, thereby eliminating burial costs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reoxidizing a partially oxidizable metal or metal oxide powder. The powder is spread on a first sloped trough to form a layer of less than about a half inch in thickness. The layer of powder slides down the trough and falls onto a second trough sloped in the opposite direction, thereby inverting the powder on the second trough. While the powder is on the troughs, it is exposed to an amount of oxygen sufficient to partially oxidize the powder but insufficient to completely oxidize the powder.Also disclosed is apparatus useful for partially reoxidizing a partially oxidizable powder.

Abstract: A spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly having grid springs and opposing dimples which contact a fuel rod passing through a cell of the spacer grid along arcuate surfaces to cradle the fuel rod and cushion any vibration impact between the fuel rods and the grid springs and dimples during reactor operation and during fuel assembly shipping. The increased bearing surface between the fuel rods and grids also serves to reduce fuel rod scratching during fuel rod insertion. The grid springs and dimples may also be provided with ramped edges to further reduce fuel rod scratching. Stiffening ribs may be on the grid springs and/or dimples. The cradling action of the grid springs and dimples reduces deviations in fuel rod position from a centered position in a spacer grid cell.

Abstract: A burnable absorber coated nuclear fuel. A fissionable material nuclear fuel substrate is at least partially covered by a burnable absorber layer. A hydrophobic material overcoat layer generally covers the burnable absorber layer and is bonded directly to it.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing a coating (such as a burnable absorber) on nuclear fuel pellets. Pallets 16 hold a single layer of fuel pellets 22 between lower and upper screened parts 18 and 20. A rotating drum 14 holds the pallets 16 on its circumference. A chamber 12 encloses the drum 14. A sputtering machine 24 has stationary, sputter-frangible, upper and lower targets (such as zirconium diboride) 26 and 28. The stationary upper targets 26 are placed inside the drum's circumference above its longitudinal axis and are pointed facing generally upward and radially outward. The stationary lower targets 28 are placed outside the drum's circumference below its longitudinal axis and are pointed facing generally upward and radially inward. The target material is sputtered onto the fuel pellets 22 as the pallets 16 on the drum 14 rotate past.