SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE CALDER HALL REACTOR IN THEORY AND EXPERIMENT

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4282828

Brown, G; Kronberger, H; Leslie, F M; Moore, J; Mummery, P W

The design specification, construction requirements, and inspection which ensure the soundness of the reactors at Calder Hall and similar power stations are discussed. The nuclear and thermal kinetics of these natural uranium gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactors are examined, and an account is given of relevant experiments, including those carried out on the Calder Hall reactors. This work takes into account the presence of plutonium and the consequent increase in moderator temperature coefficient with irradiation level. An outline is given of the results of compatibility studies and of the effect of irradiation on fuel elements, on graphite (with particular reference to stored energy), and on constructional steels. In the light of the information obtained on the nuclear and thermal characteristics of the reactor, a number of hypothetical fault conditions are examined. These include loss of reactivity control, blower failure, and loss of pressure. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Risley, Lancs, Eng.; Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-007223
• OSTI ID: 4282828
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/267
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
BURNUP
CALDER HALL
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLANT LOOPS
EQUATIONS
FABRICATION
FAILURES
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
GRAPHITE
GRAPHITE MODERATOR
HEAT TRANSFER
IRRADIATION
LEAKS
MAINTENANCE
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MODERATORS
NATURAL URANIUM FUEL
NEUTRON FLUX
PLANNING
PLUTONIUM
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTIVITY
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
STABILITY
STEELS
TEMPERATURE
TRANSIENTS
WIGNER EFFECT