Process

Zircatec processes uranium dioxide to produce pellets and assembles fuel bundles at its Port Hope site. The Cobourg site manufactures the zircaloy components and tubing for the bundles.

• Uranium dioxide (UO₂) powder is delivered to Zircatec by truck in 45-gallon drums. The material is put into processing containers and then blended to condition the powder
• UO₂ powder is compressed in a die to produce cylindrical pellets
• Pellets pass through a high-temperature electric sintering furnace with a hydrogen atmosphere to convert them to a hard, high-density ceramic
• Pellets are ground under liquid coolant to precise dimensions
• Pellets are loaded into a fuel tube which is sealed by welded end caps
• Fuel tubes are assembled into bundles and zircaloy end plates are attached by resistance welding
• After inspection and cleaning, the fuel assemblies are packaged for shipment

The zircaloy tubes used in fuel bundles and component parts are manufactured at Cobourg facility. Component parts are manufactured through standard metal-working processes.