Quarterly Progress Report for MTR-ETR Technical Branches Third Quarter, 1957

Technical Report · Mon Dec 16 04:00:00 EST 1957

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4333476· OSTI ID:4333476

McCollom, K A. ^[1]

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1. Phillips Petroleum Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Atomic Energy Div.

MTR-ETR Technical Assistance - The Engineering Test Reactor Critical Facility fuel loading was increased from a 49 element core to a 59 element core to give an excess reactivity of 11% in Δk/k. Statistical weights and thermal flux measurements were made throughout the core. A means of estimating variation in boron content in ETR fuel elements by comparing a standard fuel element with a dummy element and an element containing only fuel showed the average boron content per fuel element to be 0.65 grams more than the specified 1.6 grams. The equivalent total curie value of MTR fuel elements and the curie content of several specific isotopes were worked out. MTR-ETR Development - Four experimental shim rod magnets have already operated successfully without failure for longer than the average life of existing MTR shim rod magnets. The lower original cost, the replaceable coil feature, and the negligible maintenance for the experimental magnet should drastically reduce the maintenance attention presently required in the MTR. Refinements were made on the calculations of MTR fuel charge and xenon override. Prediction of MTR charge life was made using ingrowth of Xe-135 after a power reduction with an improved accuracy compared to previous methods. Methods of measuring both boron and fuel contained in ETR elements by chemical and non-destructive techniques are being evaluated. Hydraulic tests have been made on four modifications of the ETR fuel element design. A study of the effects of varying parameters and changing design of fuel elements has been conducted. Pre-irradiation metallographic examination of representative fuel sample plates has been completed. Preliminary planning has been completed on proposed experiments to study the reaction of molten metals with water in the reactor.

• Research Organization: Phillips Petroleum Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Atomic Energy Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(10-1)-205
• NSA Number: NSA-12-008064
• OSTI ID: 4333476
• Report Number(s): IDO--16430
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ACTIVATION-- BORON-- CRITICALITY-- ETR-- FUEL ELEMENTS- - MASS-- MEASURED VALUES-- MOCKUP-- MTR-- NEUTRON FLUX-- NEUTRONS-- RADIOISOTOPES- - REACTIVITY-- REACTOR CORE-- REACTOR FUELING-- REACTORS-- STANDARDS-- TESTING-- THERMAL NEUTRONS-- VARIATIONS
ACTIVATION-- FISSION-- MEASURED VALUES-- MOLYBDENUM 99-- MTR-- POWER-- RADIATIONS-- RADIOCHEMISTRY-- REACTORS-- SCATTERING- - SILVER 113-- TEMPERATURE-- THERMAL NEUTRONS-- URANIUM 233
BISMUTH 205-- DECAY-- LANTHANUM 142-- NUCLEAR STRUCTURE-- REACTORS
BORON-- CONTROL ELEMENTS-- ECONOMICS-- FAILURES-- FUEL ELEMENTS-- HYDRAULICS-- IRRADIATION-- LIFETIME-- MAGNETS-- MAINTENANCE-- METALLOGRAPHY-- MT
Boron
Fuel Elements
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Reactor
Shim Rod Magnets