ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a general insight into the manufacture of fuels used in nuclear reactors. The primary focus is on uranium dioxide fuels for light water reactors, including both the pressurized water reactor and the boiling water reactor. Absorption of hydrogen leads to hydrogen embrittlement, which can lead to failure of the zirconium tubing used as cladding for nuclear fuel. Resistance welding is now routinely used throughout the nuclear industry as a means of attaching end plugs to fuel rods. The mass of materials and their geometric configurations are critical to the proper operation of the nuclear reactor core. Nuclear fuel cycle facilities are regulated by many state and federal agencies. Fuel fabrication facilities used for commercial power reactors are large, industrial-scale manufacturing facilities. Finally, the pellets are transferred to storage, where they are held until they are needed in the fabrication of the fuel rods.
