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Exponential Experiment with a Thorium-Uranium Fuel in Graphite

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4191882· OSTI ID:4191882
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
An exponential experiment with multirod fuel elements in graphite moderator is described. The fuel is a thorium-uranium alloy. The buckling, thermal utilization, and resonance escape probability for one lattice configuration have been measured. In the analysis, emphasis is placed on determining the effective resonance integral of the fuel element. From the measured resonance escape probability, 0.856 ± 0.008, an integral (including 1/v capture) of 9.7 ± 0.8 barns is obtained. From the measured buckling (10.89 ± 0.05 m-2) and thermal utilization (0.9445 ± 0.0009) a value of 11 ± 2 barns is obtained for the integral. Although in agreement with one another, these values are not in general agreement with either calculated values or the results inferred from other measurements.
Research Organization:
North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-GEN-8
NSA Number:
NSA-14-009837
OSTI ID:
4191882
Report Number(s):
NAA-SR--4238
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English