CRITICAL ASSEMBLY OF URANIUM-BERYLLIUM OXIDE

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1958 · Bull. inform. sci. et tech.

OSTI ID:4273975

Gourdon, C; Martelly, J; Sagot, M; Wanner, G

BS>Sub-critical Laplacien measurements were rnade on uranium--beryllium oxide lattices by the classical exponential method and the Neutrostat'' method. The assembly used was an onthocylinder with a vertical axis. It was composed of 7.5 tons of BeO with 90 fuel channels with a cross section of 5 x 5 cm/sup 2/, arranged in a square lattice of 15 cm pitch. By charging the assembly with 700 kg of uranium, enriched to 1.36%, it was possible to attain criticality under quite favorable conditions. The assembly has no radial reflector and the axial reflectors were poisoned with cadmium to have a very small albedo and to avoid a penturbation of the neutron spectra. Cadmium tubes around each uranium rod were moved up or down to control the reactivity. The material buckling, photoneutron effect in BeO, and the temperature and pressure coefficients of reactivity were studied. (J.S.R.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: NONE
• NSA Number: NSA-13-005925
• OSTI ID: 4273975
• Journal Information: Bull. inform. sci. et tech., Journal Name: Bull. inform. sci. et tech. Vol. Vol: No. 16
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: French

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
BERYLLIUM MODERATOR
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
BUCKLING
CADMIUM
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES
CRITICALITY
CYLINDERS
ENRICHMENT
EXPONENTIAL PILES
FUEL ELEMENTS
LAPLACIAN
MASS
MEASURED VALUES
NEUTRON FLUX
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PHOTONEUTRONS
POISONING
PRESSURE
REACTIVITY
REACTOR CORE
REACTORS
REFLECTORS
RODS
SPECTRA
TEMPERATURE
TUBES
URANIUM
VARIATIONS
ZONES