Causes of damage to tube 1794-C

Technical Report · Thu Aug 19 04:00:00 EDT 1954

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10122301· OSTI ID:10122301

Wilson, C D

Tube 1794-C was removed from the pile as a leaker on July 15, 1954. The tube had been in-pile since startup and had contained a charge of 32 ``C`` metal slugs just prior to discharge. The tube was slit and examined at the 105-DR underwater viewing facility by Pile Coolant Studies tube examination personnel. A report is made of the examination of tube 1794-C which revealed areas of severe pitting damage. This damage was apparently caused by cocked slugs abrading the tube. The attack was great enough to cause perforation of the tube at about 27 feet from the rear Van Stone flange. Examination of the slugs showed that a considerable number had been cocked. Evidence of severe tube scarring and rib grooves was found on the slugs. Strikingly similar examples of pitting and grooving were observed on flow laboratory minitubes and slugs exposed in high velocity water. It is concluded that the damage observed both in- and ex- pile was caused by the chattering of misaligned low density slugs in a high velocity stream. If the number of in-pile occurrences of this attack becomes excessive it is recommended that the water flow rate in tubes containing ``C`` metal slugs be maintained as low as is practical and consistent with corrosion limitations.

• 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: 10122301
• Report Number(s): HW--32800; ON: DE93006709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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