QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1959

Technical Report · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1959

OSTI ID:4192007

Walchli, H E

A technical description is presented of the research and development work accomplished and the progress made during the period from January 1 to March 31, 1959 under the Research and Development Program. An evaluation and the resulting conclusions of work performed are given for each project in which definitive progress was made. Fuel pellets for a prototype assembly were made using the abbreviataed process. These pellets produced at cost indicated a substantial economic savings could be realized for large quantity orders. A new technique using tube crimping for fuel rod fabrication was successfully applied to Yankee sized fuel reds and specified for Core L Pressure collapse tests were concluded on Types 304 and 347 stainless steel. Type 348 (Type 347 is same as 348 except for a maximum Ta content of 0.1%) was specified for Core I. Preliminary control rod programming studies revealed areas of localized power peaks when control rods are moved This effset called "ballooning" was analyzed. Flux distributions calculated by computer techniques were compared with measurements taken from the critical experiments and were found to be in excellent agreement. Testing of the latch-type magnetic jack control rod drive mechanism was completed. Chemistry tests revealed the existence of substuntial galvanic attack between stainless steels and other materials of construction A concentrated program is in effect to determine techniques for reducing this atinck. The WCAP-4 loop was delivered to MTR and Westinghouse personnel were assigned to assist in supervising installation The latest nuclear, mechanical and thermal design datu for the core are given (For preceding period see YAEC-124.) (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Atomic Power Dept., Pittsburgh
• NSA Number: NSA-14-001146
• OSTI ID: 4192007
• Report Number(s): YAEC-125
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONTROL ELEMENTS-- CRITICALITY-- DISTRIBUTION-- MEASURED VALUES-- MECHANICS-- NEUTRON FLUX-- POWER-- POWER PLANTS-- RODS-- TESTING
COOLANT LOOPS-- PLANNING-- POWER PLANTS-- REACTOR CORE
CORROSION-- POWER PLANTS-- STEELS
ECONOMICS-- FABRICATION-- FUEL ELEMENTS-- PELLETS-- POWER PLANTS
FABRICATION-- FUEL ELEMENTS-- POWER PLANTS-- PRESSURE-- RODS-- TESTING-- TUBES
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY