EXPERIMENTS ON THE RELEASE OF FISSION PRODUCTS FROM MOLTEN REACTOR FUELS

Technical Report · Fri Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4322033

Parker, G W; Creek, G E

Since it is possible to simulate such an event on a small scale and to measure the percentage release of each of the fission elements, an investigation of the behavior of several reactor fuels was conducted. At trace concentration of fission products, slow melting of the APPR plate at 1525 deg C in air or steam effected the release of 50% of the rare gases, 33% of the iodine, 9% of the cesium, and traces of strontium. After 25% burn-up, the cesium value increased to about 60%. Aluminum alloy of the MTR type, also at trace fission-product concentration, upon melting at 700 deg C released up to 2% of the iodine, 10% of the rare gases, and negligible portions of other fission products. Zirconium alloy of the STR type after 15% burn-up, when melted at 1850 deg C, released up to 95% of the rare gases, 90% of the cesium, 60% of the iodine, and only a trace of strontium. From tuese results, it may be inferred that the percentage release of fission products to the atmosphere from molten reactor fuel is proportional to the melting temperature and is affected mainly by the degree of oxidation, the concentration of fission products, and the type of fuel. (M.H.R.)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-12-015060
• OSTI ID: 4322033
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1074
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
ANALOG SYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERE
BURNUP
CESIUM
CONTAMINATION
FISSION PRODUCTS
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IODINE
MEASURED VALUES
MELTING
OXIDATION
PHYSICS
PLATES
RARE GASES
REACTORS
STEAM
STRONTIUM
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS