Preliminary Evaluation of the Leak in the MSRE Primary System Which Occurred During the Final Shutdown
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
During the scheduled final shutdown on December 12, 1969, fission product activity appeared in the reactor cell atmosphere, indicating for the first time in the history of the reactor a leak in the primary system. The leak appeared to be near a fuel drain tank freeze valve and the leakage was stopped by freezing salt in that section of line. About 30 curies of xenon, equivalent to a few ft3 of gas from the drained fuel system, was found in the cell together with less than 0.1 curie of iodine and a trace of noble-metal fission products. Analysis of the data suggested a small crack in the freeze valve that allowed gas but little if any salt to escape. Review of construction records and operating history showed no flaw or abnormality to explain the leak. Certain likely areas were selected for possible visual inspection (next fiscal year).
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 1529351
- Report Number(s):
- CF-70-4-24
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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