Hanford Safety Device Summary Report

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1958

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4333429· OSTI ID:4333429

Fitch, Stephen H. ^[1]

---

1. North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.

The Hanford Safety Device Program was set up to study and test self- contained safety systems of high, inherent reliability, and to apply at least one of them to the Hanford reactors. A complete laboratory and in-pile test program was conducted on an experimental model which was designated Mark II. An extension of this design, designated Mark IV, has essentially the same features but is better suited to standard production fabrication techniques. Both designs feature a reactivity change which is effected by releasing an absorbent gas, boron trifluoride, from a small chamber into a larger chamber. When the flux exceeds a preset level, excessive heat generated in a U²³⁵ heater melts a fusible plug, and causes the release of the gas. The program has been completed with the design and testing of these and other safety systems which offer backup protection for the Hanford reactors.

• Research Organization: North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States). Atomics International Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-8
• NSA Number: NSA-12-008073
• OSTI ID: 4333429
• Report Number(s): NAA-SR--2463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BORON FLUORIDES-- CONTROL-- GAS FLOW-- HEATING-- MELTING-- REACTIVITY-- REACTOR SAFETY-- REACTORS-- URANIUM 235-- VARIATIONS
FABRICATION-- IN PILE LOOPS-- PLANNING-- PRODUCTION-- REACTOR SAFETY-- REACTORS-- TESTING