SNAP-50 critical experiments and analysis

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1965

OSTI ID:4315606

Callen, R C; Check, P S; Kearney, R E; Welsh, W F

Declassified 12 Sep 1973. The CCA-7 series of CANEL SNAP-50 critical experiments were undertaken to provide reactor physics data to substantiate the nuclear design analysis of compact, high-temperature reactors for space application. The CCA-7 series included both parametric studies and investigations of specific SNAP-50 design features. The purpose of the parametric studies was to obtain data on the trends in the variations of critical mass, reactivity coefficients, fission rate distributions and effectiveness of methods of reactivity control with variations in core size, core shell thickness, side reflector thickness and material composition. Emphasis was on simplicity of critical assembly configurations in order that the results would be most easily interpreted through analyses with multigroup transport theory digital computer codes. A detailed investigation was made of the effectiveness of reactivity control in the UC-fueled Reference 4 SNAP-50 design by rotation of side reflector segments. Plans for future experiments had included a study of the UN-fueled Reference 5 reactor. (auth)

• Research Organization: Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Middletown, Conn. (USA). Connecticut Advanced Nuclear Engineering Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-1)-2789
• NSA Number: NSA-29-031321
• OSTI ID: 4315606
• Report Number(s): PWAC--487
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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