UO2 kernels, a key component of fuel elements for high temperature gas cooled reactors, have usually been prepared by sol-gel methods. Sol-gel processes have a number of advantages, such as simple processes and facilities, and higher sphericity and density. In this study, to produce 900 μm-sized UO2 particles using an external gelation process, contact length extension of the NH3 gas of the broth droplets pass and the improvement of the gelation device capable of spraying 14 MNH4OH solution are used to form 3,000 μm-sized liquid droplets. To produce high-sphericity and high-density UO2 particles, HMTA, which promotes the gelation reaction in the uranium broth solution, is added to diffuse ammonium ions from the outside of the gelation solution during the aging process and generate ammonium ions from the inside of the ADU gel particles. Sufficient gelation inside of ADU gel particles is achieved, and the density of the UO2 spheres that undergo the subsequent treatment is 10.78 g/cm3; the sphericity is analyzed and found to be 0.948, indicating good experimental results.

Graphite for the nuclear reactor is used to the moderator, reflector and supporter in which fuel rod inside of nuclear reactor. Recently, there are many researches has been performed on the various characteristics of nuclear graphite, however most of them are restricted to the structural and the mechanical properties. Therefore we focused on the thermal property of nuclear graphite. This study investigated the thermal emissivity following the oxidation degree of nuclear graphite with IG-11 used as a sample. IG-11 was oxidized to 6% and 11% in air at 5 l/min at 600˚C. The porosity and thermal emissivity of the sample were measured using a mercury porosimeter and by an IR method, respectively. The thermal emissivity of an oxidized sample was measured at 100˚C, 200˚C, 300˚C, 400˚C and 500˚C. The porosity of the oxidized samples was found to increase as the oxidation degree increased. The thermal emissivity increased as the oxidation degree increased, and the thermal emissivity decreased as the measured temperature increased. It was confirmed that the thermal emissivity of oxidized IG-11 is correlated with the porosity of the sample.