Tory II-A: a nuclear ramjet test reactor

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4333232· OSTI ID:4333232

Hadley, J W ^[1]

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1. ed.

Declassified 28 Nov 1973. The first test reactor in the Pluto program, leading to development of a nuclear ramjet engine, is called Tory II-A. While it is not an actual prototype engine, this reactor embodies a core design which is considered feasible for an engine, and operation of the reactor will provide a test of that core type as well as more generalized values in reactor design and testing. The design of Tory II-A and construction of the reactor and of its test facility are described. Operation of the Tory II-A core at a total power of 160 megawatts, with 800 pounds of air per second passing through the core and emerging at a temperature of 2000 deg F, is the central objective of the test program. All other reactor and facility components exist to support operation of the core, and preliminary steps in the test program itself will be directed primarily toward ensuring attalnment of full-power operation and collection of meaningful data on core behavior during that operation. The core, 3 feet in diameter and 41/2 feet long, will be composed of bundled ceramic tubes whose central holes will provide continuous air passages from end to end of the reactor. These tubes are to be composed of a homogeneous mixture of UO/sub 2/ fuel and BeO moderator, compacted and sintered to achieve high strength and density. (30 references) (auth)

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-29-020157
• OSTI ID: 4333232
• Report Number(s): UCRL--5484
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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