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

NUCLEAR SAFETY IN HANDLING 10 PER CENT U$sup 235$-ENRICHED UO$sub 2$ FUEL

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4017265

Criteria were established for the safe fabrication and storage of 9.87% U/sup 235/ enriched UO/sub 2/ fuel rods. Due to the limited amount of fuel to be handled in this project, safe criteria were based on fuel rods at optimum rod size and lattice spacing and water flooding. When the fuel is handled in pellet form, 530 g contained U/sup 235/ is the maximum safe batch size independent of container size. The maximum safe volume, independent of mass, is 6.5 liters. When handled as 0.30-inch diameter finished fuel rods, it is safe to handle 26 rods (920 g contained U/sup 235/). A twodimensional infinite array of fuel elements (24-rod bundles) is safe with a minimum edge-to-edge separation of 24 inches. This same spacing between safe batches of pellets is also safe. Fifty columns (2.75 inches by 2.75 inches cross section) of fuel elements are safe with a minimum edge-to-edge spacing of 12 inches. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomics International. Div. of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
NSA Number:
NSA-15-025377
OSTI ID:
4017265
Report Number(s):
NAA-SR-Memo-6414
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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