Stability of randomly packed beds of fuel spheres

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1966 · Nuclear Applications and Technology

OSTI ID:4523457

Parsick, R. J.; Jones, S. C.; Hatch, L. P.

The Settled Bed Fast Reactor (SBFR) concept features a packed bed of fuel, directly cooled with sodium, which must be highly resistant to consolidation during power operation in order to avoid reactivity excursions resulting from sudden increases in bed solid fraction. This paper presents the results of an experimental study to determine bed stability. In the experimental program, the stability of the packed fuel bed was considered acceptable if a 12-g lateral shock produces a change in bed solid fraction of less than 0.002 (e.g., from 0.630 to 0.632), equivalent to a 10¢ reactivity change. The experimental results show that beds settled from fluidization can be remotely compacted to exhibit 1/6 of this change when shock tested. The particle interlocking effect of simulated coolant downflow gives a substantial extra measure of stability. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-2)-GEN-16
• NSA Number: NSA-20-047030
• OSTI ID: 4523457
• Report Number(s): BNL--9501; 0550-3043
• Journal Information: Nuclear Applications and Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Applications and Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. Vol: 2; ISSN NUATA2; ISSN 0550-3043
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Power and Power-Breeder Reactors
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY