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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

CRITICAL MASS STUDIES OF PLUTONIUM SOLUTIONS

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4137747· OSTI ID:4137747

The chain reacting conditions for plutonium nitrate in water solution were examined experimentally for a variety of sizes of spheres and cylinders. The effects on the critical mass of the displacement of hydrogen and the addition of poisons to the fuel were measured in water tamped and bare reactors. The data reveal that the absorption crosssection of Pu/sup 240/ is 925 plus or minus 200 barns and the minimum critical mass of Pu/sup 239/ in water is 510 g at a concentration of about 33 g/liter. (auth)

Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-52
NSA Number:
NSA-14-016167
OSTI ID:
4137747
Report Number(s):
HW-24514-DEL
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English