SM-2 Critical Experiments: CE-1

Technical Report · Mon Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4177873· OSTI ID:4177873

Noaks, J. W. ^[1]; McCool, W. J. ^[1]; Robinson, R. A. ^[1]; Schrader, E. W. ^[1]; Weiss, S. H. ^[1]

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1. Alco Products, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)

Critical experiment studies were performed, varying the parameters U²³⁵, B¹⁰ and metal to water ratio, in the SM-2 7 x 7 core configuration with 38 stationary elements and seven control rods of the SM-1 (APPR-1) type. An experimental mock-up Sm-1 was assembled using the basic SM-2 fuel plates. Excellent agreement between the SM-1 boron loading, determined by chemical analysis, and the SM-1 mock-up boron loading, for equivalent bank positions, was noted. Several SM-2 mock-ups, cold clean and midlife, were assembled and studied with regard to reflector effects, flow divider effects, relative control rod array worths, critical rod configurations, and relative power distributions. The results of these experiments indicate as satisfactory a U²³⁵ loading of 36.4 K_g and a B¹⁰ loading of 63.4 grams for the SM-2. Attention is drawn to numerous power peaks present in the active core. The open seven control rod array has a slight reactivity advantage over the closed seven array and consequent minor disadvantage with respect to "stuck rod" criteria.

• Research Organization: Alco Products, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• NSA Number: NSA-14-007124
• OSTI ID: 4177873
• Report Number(s): APAE-54
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BORON 10
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CRITICALITY
Chemical Analysis
Core Configuration
DISTRIBUTION
FUEL ELEMENTS
METALS
MOCKUP
Mock-Ups
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PLATES
POWER
POWER PLANTS
Power Peaks
REACTOR CORE
REFLECTORS
Reactivity
SM-2
Stuck Rod
TESTING
URANIUM 235
VARIATIONS
WATER