High burnup instrumented irradiation of boron carbide (YYO2 experiment)

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:4027968

Pitner, A L

Boron carbide pellets were irradiated in the EBR-II at temperatures of 1200 to 1600$sup 0$F to burnups as high as 80 x 10$sup 20$ captures/cm$sup 3$. Temperature and gas release from each specimen were continuously monitored during the irradiation. In general, helium release was observed to be high during initial irradiation, then decreased after a burnup of 8 x 10$sup 20$ captures/ cm$sup 3$. The release rate remained relatively low until burnup exceeded 30 x 10$sup 20$ captures/cm$sup 3$, then began increasing slowly. Helium release fractions at the end of the test were generally small, 10 to 20 percent for most of the specimens. Material variables of $sup 10$B enrichment, pellet density, and grain size had little effect on helium release. This test demonstrated the capability of FFTF reference boron carbide to perform well to burnups of 80 x 10$sup 20$ captures/cm$sup 3$, well beyond the maximum burnup level of 50 x 10$sup 20$ captures/cm$sup 3$ anticipated for first core control elements. (auth)

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, Wash. (USA)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-025194
• OSTI ID: 4027968
• Report Number(s): HEDL-SA--788; CONF-750607--45
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*BORON CARBIDES-- PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*FFTF REACTOR-- CONTROL ELEMENTS
220600* --Nuclear Reactor Technology--Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
BURNUP
HELIUM
IRRADIATION
N50140 --Metals
Ceramics
& Other Materials--Ceramics & Cermets--Radiation Effects
N77600* --Reactors--Research
Test
Experimental
Zero-power & Training Reactors
& Subcritical Assemblies
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING