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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Slug cocking and column bowing experiments

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10179406· OSTI ID:10179406
A large number of ``hot spot`` slug failures characterized by intergranular corrosion of the aluminum can have occurred in the past year. The cause of this type of failure may be vertical displacement of one or more slugs in the slug columns. To determine if such displacement may reasonably be expected and to determine the cause and cure of the displacement a set of experiments have been performed in the 189-D laboratory. This document presents data which has been thus far collected. (1) Slugs which are cocked in a process tube are cause for severe-column bowing. Bowing is most severe when the cocked slug is in the downstream portion of the tube. Stopping flow will not realign bowed slugs. (2) Flow seating a slug column can cause slugs to cock and cocked slugs remain cocked even when backseated and the water flow is stopped. (3) When all slugs have undamaged ends and are well aligned with the tube ribs as well as fully seated against the rear nozzle insert, only minor bowing will occur, even when the upstream end of the slug column is restrained. (4) Anodized pieces behave erratically and in an unexplained manner. (5) Flows as much as 110% of normal do not affect slug column behavior.
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:
10179406
Report Number(s):
HW--41661; ON: DE94018232
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English