HEAVY WATER MODERATED POWER REACTORS. PROGRESS REPORT, JANUARY 1963
The Heavy Water Components Test Reactor (HWCTR) was operated most of the month at a power level of about 40 Mw for irradiation tests of various types of fuel assemblies. During reactor operation, a cladding failure occurred in an assembly of unalloyed U tubes in Zircaloy sheaths. This was the second such failure in recent weeks; therefore, all other U metal assemblies were removed from the HWCTR pending identification of the cause of the failures. An irradiation test of two 2-in.-OD tubes of mechanically compacted uranium oxide in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor was concluded at an average exposure of 3000 Mwd/t. Results of a study of U utilization indicate that under the combined converter-breeder economy postulated for the (J. S. by the AEC, less than half as much U would have to be mined to support D/sub 2/O converter reactors to the year 2000 than would be required for H/sub 2/O converters. A reference design was developed by cost optimization techniques for a 300 Mwe organic-cooled, D/sub 2/O-moderated reactor fueled with slightly enriched tubes of UC. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) & Co. Atomic Energy Div., Wilmington, Del.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(07-2)-1
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-019611
- OSTI ID:
- 4726085
- Report Number(s):
- DP-825
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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