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

HEAVY WATER MODERATED POWER REACTORS PROGRESS REPORT, APRIL 1961

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4014610

Construction of the HWCTR was approximately 70% complete. Localized hydrogen attack on Zircaloy was identified tentatively as the principal cause of the sheath fdilures that occurred during Savarnah River irradiation tests of mechanically compacted tubes of Zircaloy-clad uranium oxide. The most probable source of the hydrogen is believed to be water vapor, which will be removed from the oxide in future tests. The irradiation testing of one thin-walled 2- in.diameter tube of unalloyed urarnium clad with Zircaloy continued at Savannah River; irradiation tests were started on four 1-in.-diameter tubes of this material. Experimental data were obtained on the heat transfer limits for a bundle of seven rods cooled by forced flow of boiling water. (auth)

Research Organization:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) & Co. Atomic Energy Div., Wilmington, Del.
NSA Number:
NSA-15-025632
OSTI ID:
4014610
Report Number(s):
DP-615
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English