DEFORMATION OF THE FORD NUCLEAR REACTOR SHIM-SAFETY RODS

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4095837

Ricker, C W; Dunbar, W R; Bullock, J B

ABS>A description is presented of a jamming incident in which a shim- safety rod in the Ford Nuclear Reactor (FNR) jammed in its special fuel element daring a routine reactor stunt-up. Rod deformations are described along with the initial investigations, and a program for further examination to conclusively establish the cause of the incident is outlined. Hypotheses offered for the cause of the incident include existence of mechanical stresses resulting from expansion of wet B/sub 4/C powder, internal gas pressure generated by B/sup 10/ (n, alpha )Li/sup 7/ reactions, chemical reactions between B/sub 4/C or Li/sup 7/ and water, and radiolysis of water. (J.R.D.)

• Research Organization: Michigan. Univ., Ann Arbor. Michigan Memorial-Phoenix Project
• NSA Number: NSA-15-010574
• OSTI ID: 4095837
• Report Number(s): MMPP-110-2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
ALPHA PARTICLES
BORON 10
BORON CARBIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
DEFORMATION
EXPANSION
FNR
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
HUMIDITY
LITHIUM 7
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
POWDERS
PRESSURE
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH REACTORS
RODS
SAFETY
STRESSES
WATER