Reactivity Changes Associated with Slurry Settling in Small Slurry Reactors

Technical Report · Mon Feb 09 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4291388· OSTI ID:4291388

Nestor, Jr, C. W. ^[1]; Rosenthal, M. W. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

The reactivity changes resulting from slurry settling were computed for a number of small one-region slurry reactors using an IBM-704 routine. Calculations were performed for three temperatures, two sizes, and five initial thorium concentrations. In general, reactivity additions on settling were observed which decreased with increasing thorium inventory, increasing temperature, and decreasing diameter. For example, at 100 deg C a 2.5-ft diameter "square'' cylinder (height equal to diameter) showed a maximum reactivity introduction of 4% σk/k with an initial concentration of 100 g Th/ℓ and a moderator composition of 75% D₂O, 25% H₂O; at 200°C the maximum reactivity introduction was 3.6%. With the same conditions, a 2-ft diameter "square'' cylinder was subcritical on settling. For an initial thorium concentration of 400 g Th/ℓ the 2.5-ft reactor showed a reactivity introduction of 1.4% at 100°C and 0.7% at 200°C.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-13-009364
• OSTI ID: 4291388
• Report Number(s): CF-59-2-10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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