Reconfiguration of the NRAD delay loop for proposed 1 MW operations
- Argonne National Laboratory-West, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Neutron radiography is provided by the NRAD reactor facility, which is located beneath the HFEF hot cell. The NRAD reactor is a TRIGA reactor and is operated at a steady-state power level of 250 kw solely for neutron radiography and the development of radiography techniques. When the NRAD facility was designed and constructed, an operating power level of 250 kw was considered to be adequate for obtaining radiographs of the type of specimens envisaged at that time. Since that time a second radiography station was installed and the thickness of the specimens being radiographed is greater than was initially envisaged. In order to decrease exposure times, the reactor power level is to be increased to 1 Mw. The present delay loop can not to be used at 1 Mw operation, because the passage way where the primary piping exits the reactor room must be maintained less than 1 MR/hr. To obtain the needed delay before the primary water exits the reactor room using the present internal delay loop system would require two more delay loops of the same size to be placed in series with the present delay loop. Because the NRAD reactor tank is small this is not possible; therefore, the delay must take place external to the reactor tank. The delay loop will have to be located in a shielded area to allow the decay of N{sup 16}. The best location for the delay tank will be in the east radiography.
- Research Organization:
- GA Technologies Inc., San Diego, CA (United States); Northrop Research and Technology Center, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21146753
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US--09N0074; TOC--16
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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