HYDRAULIC BALL (HY-BALL) CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Sixth Quarterly Progress Report, October-December 1963

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1964

OSTI ID:4134449

A physics analysis, including void-distribution and burnup effects, of the axial power distribution of a core with an axial zone of distributed poison was completed. A physics analysis of the axial power distribution of a core with three axial zones of different enrichment fuels was partially completed. Calculations were performed to indicate the shutdown effectiveness of the fast scram of a single HyBall column (per fuel assembly) versus a slower scram of all five Hy-Ball columns (per fuel assembly). Tests were run with room temperature water on pusher-buffers to find a configuration with maximum hydraulic drag for a given operating clearance with r'espect to the Hy-Ball column tube. After lift and scram tests and additional modifications to reduce peak deceleration rates, labyrinth type pusher-buffers were installed in the hot test loop HyBall column assemblies for reactor temperature Test No. 3-c, Room temperature water leakage tests were run to check the performance of the three-way control valve GNEC-1 after a total of 175,000 cycles of satisfactory operation with reactor temperature water. Two configurations of piston piston-ring assemblies were leak tested with room temperature water. The reactor temperature tests, designated No. 2-c, which consisted of cycling the Hy-Ball columns and control value systems were completed. The flow-control buffer system was used for this series of tests. The reactor temperature Test No. 3-c is a cycling test (lift and scram) with labyrinth pusher-buffers installed in the fast scram columns. At this time, both the ball- and cylinder-loaded Hy-Ball column assemblies have operated for approximately 26,500 cycles. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Nuclear Engineering Corp., Dunedin, Fla.
• NSA Number: NSA-18-007859
• OSTI ID: 4134449
• Report Number(s): GNEC-318
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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