CONTROL ROD ECONOMICS

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Nuclear Sci. and Eng.

OSTI ID:4091582

Anderson, W K; Beck, C J; Theilacker, J S

The cost of control rods, which contributes a significant fracion to the total cost of a power reactor core, is discussed as a function of metallurgical composition and reactor endurance. Materials considered include hafnium, Cd5- Inl5-Ag80 alloy, several boron carrying systems, and dispersions of such rare- earth oxides as Eu/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Gd/sub 2/O/sub 3/, and Dy/sub 2/O/sub 3/. Costs based on a thorough analysis of processing variables and raw material prices are presented for a variety of rods for a specific reactor design considered typical of enriched power plants of the present generation. Concentrations were established by an approximate method described by Stevens. Although this method is relatively crude, the results are considered adequate. For long-lived cores the lowest cost rods of proved composition were a composite rod with hafnium tip and boron dispersion upper blade or hafnium rods if the hafnium can be bought at presently quoted zirconium co-prodact prices. Rare- earth cermets of properly adjusted composition also fell into an interesting price range. Boron dispersions though lower in cost cannot be considered among the proved materials for long-lived high burn-up cores. For shut down rods or cores of shorter endurance, boron steels offer a low cost solution to the problem. For cores of intermediate endurance or shut down rods for longer endarance cores, Cd--In--Ag alloy rods may be of use and are certainly economically attractive. (auth)

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Lab., Schenectady, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-010417
• OSTI ID: 4091582
• Journal Information: Nuclear Sci. and Eng., Journal Name: Nuclear Sci. and Eng. Vol. Vol: 9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALLOYS
BORON
BURNUP
CADMIUM
CADMIUM ALLOYS
CERMETS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
DISPERSIONS
DYSPROSIUM OXIDES
ECONOMICS
ENRICHMENT
EUROPIUM OXIDES
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
HAFNIUM
INDIUM
INDIUM ALLOYS
METALLURGY
OXIDES
RARE EARTHS
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
RODS
SHUTDOWN
SILVER
SILVER ALLOYS
STEELS
ZIRCONIUM