DEVELOPMENT OF THE SRE MARK 1 SAFETY ROD

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4250006

Phillips, E C

Designs development, and testing of the SRE Mark I safety rod are reported. In this device all of the operating mechanisms, with the exception of a removable drive botor, are located in a sealed thimble beneath the reactor loading face. The safety rod incorporates a solenoid operated mechanical latch to drop the neutron absorbing elements a ball screw for retrieving the element and a gas compression tyne shock absorber. The neutron absorbing element falls at ~ 92 per cent the acceleration of gravity and is fully inserted in ~0.96 second. At full reactor power the moving mechanisms of the safety rod operate at 1100 F in a helium atmosphere. The materials problems encountered in operating mechanisms at high temperatures and their solutions are discussed. The difficulties encountered in high temperature testing of the prototype safety rod have led to limited use of the Mark I safety rod in the SRE. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, Calif.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-13-014063
• OSTI ID: 4250006
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR-2008
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
HELIUM
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IMPACT SHOCK
IN PILE LOOPS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOCKUP
PLANNING
REACTORS
RODS
SRE
TESTING
VELOCITY