Proposal for irradiation of uranium swelling capsule

Technical Report · Mon Jun 30 04:00:00 EDT 1958

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10145152· OSTI ID:10145152

Weber, J W

To date, no data is available on the swelling rates of unrestrained unalloyed uranium rods operating at 450--630C core temperature and 250--350C surface temperature. These temperature ranges are of extreme interest in the Hanford fuel element development program. To obtain information on the effect of cladding restraint, exposure, and the above temperatures, on uranium swelling rates, a series of experiments is being designed for irradiation in Hanford reactors. The experimental assembly consists of a uranium fuel rod supported concentrically in an aluminum capsule. Surrounding the fuel rod is an annulus of liquid NaK to serve as a heat transfer agent. To provide a check on the operation and temperature calculations of the capsules, it is proposed initially to make a single irradiation in a normal process tube. The uranium core temperature will be continuously monitored by a thermocouple, and flux measurements will be made in the capsule to determine the specific power of the fuel.

• 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: 10145152
• Report Number(s): HW--56589; ON: DE94010590
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220600
FUEL RODS
HANFORD PRODUCTION REACTORS
HEAT TRANSFER
IRRADIATION
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RESEARCH
TEST
TRAINING
PRODUCTION
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS
SWELLING
URANIUM