Modelling Of The Fuel Sintering Process

Framatome manufacturing plants use walking-beam furnaces to sinter large productions of fuel pellets. The sintering process of different products in the same equipment is complex with sublimation and reduction reactions involved, but also densification and grain-growth. Hence, Framatome started to model it with several benefits:\n - Increase reactions knowledge\n - Perform parametric studies without using the production equipment\n - Increase performance by process optimization \n - Compare the different equipment within Framatome and use the best developments\n - Create teaching tools through theoretical description of the process and its key influencing parameters\n The modelling is a step-by-step approach: first the geometry, gas flows and temperatures were established, then adding more detailed pieces. Validation of the model is then done with experimental data from production campaigns. Afterwards parametric sensitivity calculations can be performed to evaluate the influence of different parameters such as gas mixture, temperatures and therefore optimize the sintering.