IRRADIATION-CAPSULE STUDY FOR SM-2 REFERENCE AND ALTERNATE DISPERSION FUELS

Technical Report · Thu May 25 04:00:00 EDT 1961

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4064025· OSTI ID:4064025

Hamilton, D B; Lagedrost, J F; Simons, E M; Stang, J H

Nominal 24 to 40 wt.% highly enriched UO/sub 2/ dispersed in a matrix of Type 347 stainless steel, with burnable poisons in the form of B/sub 4/C, ZrB/sub 2/, NbB/sub 2/, or boron-10, and clad with Type 347 stainless steel are being evaluated for the SM-2 by capsule irradiation in high-flux positions at the MTR and the ETR. Each capsule contains five to eight specimens to be irradiated to nominal burnups of 37 to 70 at.% of the uranium-235 at surface temperatures near 600 deg F. The plate-type specimens are supported between OFHC copper semicylinders which are wrapped with sheathed electric heaters having a total capacity of 12 kw and are immersed in NaK in single-wall nickel capsules. Thermocouples are located adjacent to specimen surfaces. Irradiations of four capsules were completed early in 1960; maximum specimen burnups were approximately 40 per cent of the total uranium atoms originally present. Temperature data from six current in-pile capsules indicate that the majority of the specimens now being irradiated are close to design temperature. Estimates of current burnup levels include consideration of specific uncertainties involved in the calculations and the measured burnup of specimens from the first capsules. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-92
• NSA Number: NSA-15-021196
• OSTI ID: 4064025
• Report Number(s): BMI-1516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BORON 10
BORON CARBIDES
BURNUP
DISPERSIONS
FUEL CANS
FUELS
IN PILE LOOPS
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NIOBIUM BORIDES
POISONING
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM DIOXIDE
ZIRCONIUM BORIDES