A new electromechanical press for fuel pellet manufacturing was built last year in partnership between CEA-Marcoule and ChampalleAlcen. This press was developed to shape pellets in a hot cell via remote handling. It has been qualified to show its robustness and to optimize the compaction cycle, thus obtaining a better sintered pellet profile and limiting damage. | Modelling of powder die compaction for press cycle optimization EPJ Nuclear Sci. Technol. 2 25 2016 Nuclear Sciences . Bayle et al. published by EDP Sciences 2016 amp Technologies DOI epjn 2016018 Available online at http REGULAR ARTICLE Modelling of powder die compaction for press cycle optimization Jean-Philippe Bayle1 Vincent Reynaud2 François Gobin1 Christophe Brenneis1 Eric Tronche1 Cécile Ferry1 and Vincent Royet1 1 CEA DEN DTEC SDTC 30207 Bagnols Cèze France 2 Champalle Company 151 rue Ampère ZI Les Bruyères 01960 Peronnas France Received 21 September 2015 Received in final form 16 February 2016 Accepted 15 March 2016 Published online 13 May 2016 Abstract. A new electromechanical press for fuel pellet manufacturing was built last year in partnership between CEA-Marcoule and ChampalleAlcen. This press was developed to shape pellets in a hot cell via remote handling. It has been qualified to show its robustness and to optimize the compaction cycle thus obtaining a better sintered pellet profile and limiting damage. We will show you how 400 annular pellets have been produced with good geometry s parameters based on press settings management. These results are according to a good phenomenological pressing knowledge with Finite Element Modeling calculation. Therefore during die pressing a modification in the punch displacement sequence induces fluctuation in the axial distribution of frictional forces. The green pellet stress and density gradients are based on these frictional forces between powder and tool and between grains in the powder influencing the shape of the pellet after sintering. The pellet shape and diameter tolerances must be minimized to avoid the need for grinding operations. To find the best parameters for the press settings which enable optimization FEM calculations were used and different compaction models compared to give the best calculation physical trial comparisons. These simulations were then used to predict the .
