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The startup and operation of the Torrey Pines FLIP Mark III TRIGA

Conference ·
OSTI ID:21156970
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Gulf Energy and Environmental Systems, San Diego, CA (United States)
On June 8, 1971, The Torrey Pines TRIGA Mark III reactor went critical on a core loading of FLIP (Fuel Lifetime Improvement Program) fuel. This new TRIGA fuel, which was developed by Gulf Energy and Environmental Systems, contains 70% enriched uranium and erbium as a burnable poison alloyed with 91 wt-% zirconium. The reactor achieved criticality with 53 FLIP fuel elements and was then loaded to a total of 67 fuel elements after calibrating the control rods. A number of tests were performed on the core. Although there were a few problems related to the startup, once the reactor was on the line the FLIP core performed very much like the old 20%-enriched core.
Research Organization:
TRIGA Reactors, Gulf Energy and Environmental Systems Co., San Diego, CA (United States); Texas A and M University, College Station, TX (United States)
OSTI ID:
21156970
Report Number(s):
INIS-US--09N0217; T--739
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English