Kinetic modeling study of a voloxidation for the production of U 3O8 powder from a UO2 pellet

Abstract

A kinetic model for the oxidation of a UO2 pellet to U 3O8 powder has been suggested by considering the mass transfer and the diffusion of oxygen molecules. The kinetic parameters were estimated by a fitting of the experimental data. The activation energies for the chemical reaction and the product layer diffusion were calculated from the kinetic model. The oxidation conversion of a UO2 pellet was simulated at various operating conditions. The suggested model explains the oxidation behavior of UO2 well.