Production Test IP-725 increased graphite temperature limit: F Reactor
The fundamental objective of the graphite temperature limit is to prevent excessive oxidation of the graphite moderator blocks with carbon dioxide and water vapor in the reactor atmosphere. Laboratory tests have shown that 10 percent uniform oxidation of graphite results in a loss in strength of approximately 50 per cent. This value of a strength loss of 50 percent has been arbitrarily established as the limit to graphite oxidation over the lifetime of the reactor stack. This limit has been further arbitrarily interpreted as an oxidation rate of not more than two percent per thousand days of reactor operation. At this rate limit, the reactor stack could be operated for 15--20 years before the graphite strength was reduced 50 percent. As with any chemical reaction, the rate of reaction of graphite with oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor increases with increasing temperature. The graphite temperature limits presently in effect at the smaller reactors were therefore primarily established to hold the reaction rate between graphite and carbon dioxide at two percent per thousand operating days and were based on laboratory and in-reactor experiments which are presently believed to have been partially contaminated with oxygen from air leakages. It is therefore the objective of the production test detailed in this report to investigate the effects of higher graphite temperatures on the stack oxidation rate. Specifically, this production test authorizes an increase in the graphite temperature limit of 50 C at F Reactor. Should the graphite oxidation rates obtained during this test warrant additional testing at even higher temperatures, such tests will be authorized by supplements to this production test.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Richland, WA (United States). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10163178
- Report Number(s):
- RL-REA-14; ON: DE94014608
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: Declassified; PBD: 1 Dec 1964
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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