skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: D10 experiment: coolability of UO/sub 2/ debris in sodium with downward heat removal. [LMFBR]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6112398· OSTI ID:6112398

The LMFBR Debris Coolability Program at Sandia National Laboratories investigates the coolability of particle beds which may form following a severe accident involving core disassembly in a nuclear reactor. The D series experiments utilize fission heating of fully enriched UO/sub 2/ particles submerged in sodium to realistically simulate decay heating. The D10 experiment is the first in the series to study the effects of bottom cooling of the debris that could be provided in an actual accident condition by structural materials onto which the debris might settle. Additionally, the D10 experiment was designed to achieve maximum temperatures in the debris approaching the melting point of UO/sub 2/. The experiment was successfully operated for over 50 hours and investigated downward heat removal in a packed bed at specific powers of 0.16 to 0.58 W/g. Dryout in the debris was achieved at powers from 0.42 to 0.58 W/g. Channels were induced in the bed and channeled bed dryout was achieved at powers of 1.06 to 1.77 W/g. Maximum temperatures in excess of 2500/sup 0/C were attained.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), Ispra (Italy). Joint Nuclear Research Center
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6112398
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-4055; SAND-84-1144; ON: TI85007594
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English