STUDY OF BERYLLIUM BURNUP AND DISPERSION FOR RE-ENTERING NUCLEAR AUXILIARY POWER SYSTEMS

Technical Report · Fri Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4647879

Feild, Jr, A L

Analytical studies were conducted to determine (1) orbital reentry burnup behavior of beryllium reflectors in SNAP reactor systems and (2) toxic hazard produced at ground level by ablated and dispersed beryllium residue from re-entering SNAP reflector. Digital computer programs were formulated to calculate trajectories, aerodynamic heating, oxidations, and mass loss rates of specific beryllium shapes re-entering under proposed Hight program conditions. Concluding studies postulated actual reentry of a SNAP-10A reflector. Toxic hazards were determined by calculation of atmospheric dispersal and fallout of beryllium particles in the toxic size range. Studies concluded that varying degrees of reflector burnup will occur, depending upon reentry attitude and point of release from the reactor assembly. However, no toxic hazard will exist at ground level even with complete reflector burnup at lowest possible altitude. (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Astronuclear Lab., Pittsburgh
• NSA Number: NSA-17-036986
• OSTI ID: 4647879
• Report Number(s): AFSWC-TDR-62-119; AD-294404
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AERODYNAMICS
ATMOSPHERE
BERYLLIUM
COMBUSTION
COMPUTERS
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH
FRICTION
LEVELS
LOSSES
MASS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OXIDATION
PARTICLES
POWER PLANTS
RE-ENTRY
REACTORS
REFLECTORS
RESIDUES
SNAP-10 SERIES
SPACE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
SPACE VEHICLES
THERMAL RADIATION
TOXICITY