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Chemical and spectrochemical production analysis of ThO{sub 2} and {sup 233}UO{sub 2}-ThO{sub 2} pellets for the light water breeder reactor core for Shippingport (LWBR development program)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4168468· OSTI ID:4168468
The Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory has utilized wet chemical, emission spectrochemical, and mass spectrometric analytical techniques for the production analysis of the ThO{sub 2} and {sup 233}UO{sub 2}-ThO{sub 2} (1 to 6 wt percent {sup 233}UO{sub 2}) pellets for the Light Water Breeder Reactor (LWBR) core for Shippingport. Proof of the fuel breeding concept necessitates measurement of precise and accurate chemical characterization of all fuel pellets before core life. Chemistry's efforts toward this goal are represented in three main sections: (1) general discussions relating the chemical requirements for ThO{sub 2} and UO{sub 2}-ThO{sub 2} core materials to the analytical capabilities; (2) technical discussions of the chemical and instrumental technology applied for the analysis of aluminum, boron, calcium, carbon, chloride plus bromide, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, europium, fluoride, gadolinium, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, nitrogen, samarium, silicon, titanium, vanadium, thorium, anduranium (total, trace, and uranium VI) and (3) a formal presentation of the analytical procedures applied to the LWBR Development Program.
Research Organization:
Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, Pa. (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
NSA Number:
NSA-32-021510
OSTI ID:
4168468
Report Number(s):
WAPD-TM--1172
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English