HOMOGENEOUS REACTOR PROJECT QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING JULY 31, 1955

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1955

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4296648· OSTI ID:4296648

McDuffle, H F; Kelly, D.C. comps.

8 5 6 2 0 5 8 5 5 ? 5 : tion of the HRT is summarized. The design of some reactor components is described, including fuel system line coolers, the thermal shield, instrument cubicles, the reactor cell air monitor, and sampling facilities. The important design specifications for the HRT fissionproduct adsorption system are outlined. The effects of fluid circulation on HRT stability, the results of the rupture of the fuel inlet nozzle on the pressure vessel, core tank temperature, and heat generation and temperature distribution in the control room area shield were examined. Operation of the HRT mockup loop is summarized. High generalized corrosion rates and U precipitation were observed when 50 ppm oxygen was used. Results from tests of HRT pumps, heat exchanger, sampler mockup, and reflex condenser and recombiner are presented. Design of the instrumentation in the control room area and fabrication of differential pressure and liquid level transmitters are reported. Thorium Breeder Reactor. Stability criteria, the effect of slurry settling on reactivity, and neutron losses due to coating the core tank with platinum bave been analyzed for the TBR. An economic study of partial fuel costs for one-region Pu-U reactors was completed. The design concept of a 300- electrical-Mw thorium breeder power station utilizing low-pressure gas recombination was completed, and construction and operating costs were estimated. Design problems which must be solved before the design can be considered practical are discussed. Medification of TBR design from low- to high-pressure recombination was started. Corrosion. Operation of dynamic-corroslon test loops with uranyl sulfate solutions and thorium oxide slurries proceeded in a routine manner, and results are presented tabularly. Sedimentation characteristics of thorium dioxide slurries were determined at 100 to 300 deg C. Development, fabrication, and operation of in-side loops for radiation corrosion studies are described. Data from in-side loop and bomb experiments to study the corrosion of Zircaloy-2 and stainless steel under irradiation are reported. Results are presented from laboratory corrosion studies of stressed and unstressed specimens of stainless steel, titanium alloy and Zlrcaloy-2, and unstressed specimens of aluminum oxide in simulated HRT solutions. The effects of sulfate additions, calcination temperature, and particle size on the corrosive effects of thorium oxide slurries were studied. Engneering Development. The status of the heat exchanger development program is summarized. Thorium oxide slurry circulation studies and the development of blanket-system components such as dump tanks and pressurizer are continuing. The power removal capabilities of boiling homogeneous reactors are being studied. The results of stress-corrosion tests on austenitic stainless steels and dynamiccorrosion tests of stainless steel welds are reported. The mechanical properties of irradiated Zircaloy-2, stainless steel, and carbon steel specimens are being studied. Chemical Engineering Development. Studies to determine the effect of irradiation on the properties of thorium oxide slurries and to demonstrate slurry radiation stability were continued. Silver was shown to be a good internal catalyst for the recombination of radiolytic gases in thorium oxide slurries. Progress was made in the characterization of thorium oxide preducts and slurries by x-ray, nitrogen adsorption surface area, thermogravimetric, and gaseous adsorption techniques, sedimentation particle size analyses, and bulk density measurements. The HRT fuel processing plant is described. The precipitation of needymium sulfate from

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-13-008290
• OSTI ID: 4296648
• Report Number(s): ORNL-1943
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
ADSORPTION
AIR
BUILDINGS
CIRCUITS
CONDENSERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLANT LOOPS
CORROSION
CRACKS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTRIBUTION
FABRICATION
FAILURES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL SOLUTIONS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
HRT
INSTRUMENTS
LEAKS
LEVELS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOCKUP
MONITORING
NOZZLES
OXYGEN
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
PRECIPITATION
PRESSURE
PRESSURE VESSELS
PUMPS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTIVITY
REACTOR CORE
REACTORS
RECOMBINER
RESEARCH REACTORS
SAMPLING
SHIELDING
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
THERMAL INSULATION
TRANSDUCERS
URANIUM
WATER