NUCLEAR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING THE DESIGN OF THE MARITIME GAS COOLED REACTOR
The MGCR and its propulsion machinery are briefly described, and the possible hazards involved in operation of an MGCR-powered ship are discussed. The MGCR is a thermal reactor with slightly enriched UO/sub 2/ as fuel, BeO as moderator, reflector, and diluent, and helium as coolant. The coolant enters just above the core, flows downward outside the thermal shield and then up through the lower grid plate. The helium enters at 1120 psia and 745 deg F and leaves at 1345 deg F through orificed ponts in the fuel channels. The turbomachinery is four axial-flow machines in one housing (a high-pressure high- temperature turbine driving two compressors nt 12,200 rpm and a lowpressure turbine operating at 7500 rpm for propulsion). The accident situations considered include start-up accident, cold coolant accident, flooding of core, loss of coolant, fuel-element failure, loss of propulsion plant load, flooding, sinking, and salvage. Analysis of these emergencies leads to the conclusion that the reactor is inherentiy safe. (T.R.H.)
- Research Organization:
- General Atomic Div., General Dynamics Corp., San Diego, Calif.; General Dynamics Corp. Electric Boat Div., Groton, Conn.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-007084
- OSTI ID:
- 4120160
- Report Number(s):
- GA-1778
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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