Experimental equipment associated with the United Kingdom high-flux research reactors

Technical Report · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1964

OSTI ID:4022856

Crocker, V. S.

The diversified use of DIDO, PLUTO, and DMTR reactors has lead to a wide variety of designs of experimental equipment and the most interesting and important of these are discussed. A substantial part of the irradiation program has been concerned with the behaviour of non-fissile specimens in high fast neutron fluxes. The evolution of rigs for this type of experiment is described. The original design was for irradiating graphite samples at a few hundred degrees centigrade, while later rigs now accommodate a wide variety of materials at temperatures up to 1500 deg C. A rig for fissile specimens which has similarly undergone several stages of development is also described. The high-pressure water loop in DIDO has been working satisfactorily for several years. The principal features of the loop are outlined and modifications to allow up to four individual experimental holes to be cooled by parallel water currents from the one high-pressure water system are discussed. The High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Loop, which is installed in PLUTO has been used exclusively by the OECD DRAGON Project. The design concept of this loop, together with some commissioning problems and operational experience using possible DRAGON Reactor fuel elements, is recounted. Quite different problems have arisen in the provision of rigs for producing 'cold' (15-45 deg K) and 'hot' (~ 1100 deg K) neutron beams. These are discussed together with the operation of the liquid-hydrogen moderator chamber in DIDO. Finally, the future requirements for rigs, especially with regard to temperature, are discussed and some of the proposals for meeting them described. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, England (United Kingdom)
• Sponsoring Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (United Kingdom). Research Group
• NSA Number: NSA-18-038585
• OSTI ID: 4022856
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.28/P/134
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DIDO
DMTR
DRAGON
EXPERIMENTS
FAST NEUTRONS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
GRAPHITE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
IN PILE LOOPS
IRRADIATION
LIQUIDS
MEASURED VALUES
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON FLUX
OPERATION
PLANNING
PLUTO
PRODUCTION
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH REACTORS
TESTING