TORY II-A--A NUCLEAR RAMJET TEST REACTOR

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4709933· OSTI ID:4709933

Hadley, J.W. ed.

The design of Tory II-A is essentially complete and construction of the reactor and of its test facility is in progress. Test operation of the reactor is scheduled at a total power of 160 megawatts, with 800 pounds of air per second passing through the core and emerging at 2000 deg F. The core, 3 ft in dia and 41/ 2 ft long, will be composed of bundled ceramic tubes whose central holes will provide continuous air passages from end to end of a homogeneous mixture of UO/ sub 2/ fuel and BeO moderator, compacted and sintered to achieve high strength and density. Surrounding the core will be a thick graphite reflector containing moveable B-loaded nuclear control elements. The entire reactor, together with control actuators, a duct to bring coolant air up to and away from the core, and other auxiliaries, will be mounted on a railroad flatcar for convenient transportation between assembly-disassembly shops and the test point. A group of steel tanks will store 100,000 pounds of air, enough to cool the reactor at full power for at least a minute, with sufficient reserve for startup and shutdown phases. In addition, blowers will furnish a continuous supply of air at a much lower rate for lowpower operation and for protracted cooling after a fullpower run. Operatton of the reactor will be controlled from a building about 2 miles distant from the test point. In addition to information on Inlet air conditions and on neutron fiux level which will be necessary for reactor control, very extensive data on air and structure temperatures throughout the reactor, on air pressure distribution, and on strain and vibration in the reactor will be transmitted to the control building for display and recording. A heavily shielded disassembly building, fitted with remote-handling equipment, will provide for inspection and repair during the course of test operations, as well as dismantling of the reactor after completion of teste, to permit thorough examination of components. (auth)

• Research Organization: California. Univ., Livermore. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-17-011990
• OSTI ID: 4709933
• Report Number(s): UCRL-5484(Del.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
BERYLLIUM MODERATOR
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
BORON
BUILDINGS
CERAMICS
COMPACTING
COMPRESSORS
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLANT LOOPS
COOLING
DEFORMATION
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
FABRICATION
FUELS
GAS COOLANT
GAS FLOW
GRAPHITE
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
INSPECTION
JETS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MACHINE PARTS
MAINTENANCE
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MIXING
MOCKUP
MONITORING
NEUTRON FLUX
OPERATION
PLANNING
POWER
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
PROPULSION
RADIATION PROTECTION
RAMJET
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
RECORDING SYSTEMS