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U.S. Department of Energy
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Low-Power Physics Experiments on the Sodium Reactor Experiment

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4248497· OSTI ID:4248497
 [1]
  1. North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
A series of experiments was performed during the loading and low-power operation of the SRE to determine some of the more basic nuclear characteristics. Critical masses were determined and found to be 22.2 fuel elements, or 42.4 kg of uranlum-235, for the dry reactor (no sodium present), and 32.6 fuel elements or 62.2 kg of uranium-235, for the wet reactor (sodium present at 180 °C). Neutron flux mappings were obtained and were found to be in general agreement with theory in the core region; however discrepancies were observed in the reflector region and biological shielding. The average reactivity worth was found to be approximately 2.0% for control rods and approximately 1.5% for safety rods. A measurement of the isothermal temperature coefficient of reactivity found it to be +1.36 x 10-3%/ °F at 400 °F, to decrease with increasing temperature, and to approach 0.0%/ °F at about 800 °F. Also, danger coefficients wore measured on a number of experimental reactor elements.
Research Organization:
North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
DOE Contract Number:
AT-11-1-GEN-8
NSA Number:
NSA-13-015775
OSTI ID:
4248497
Report Number(s):
NAA-SR--3341
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English