Two Spherical Fast Critical Experiments (ZPR-III Assemblies 38 and 39)

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4759971· OSTI ID:4759971

Bates, J. C. ^[1]; Davey, W. G. ^[1]; Amundson, P. I. ^[2]; Gasidlo, J. M. ^[2]; Long, J. K. ^[2]; Keeney, W. P. ^[2]

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1. Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States); UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) (United Kingdom)
2. Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Two spherical versions of earlier cylindrical assemblies were used for a critical study of shape effects for fast reactor cores with volumes of 300 to 400 liters. Assemblies 24 (cylindrical) and 38 (spherical) had a high-density metallic U blanket, whereas the set of assemblies numbered 31 (cylindrical) and 39 (spherical) had a low-density U-fueled core (with steel and Al diluents) with a high-density blanket of depleted U. The main features of these assemblies are summarized. Reactivity coefficients of a small number of fissile and nonfissile materials were measured in both assemblies (38 and 39). In Assembly 38 the effects of environment, etc., upon fission rates measured with absolute fission chambers were investigated. Radial fission rate traverses in different directions were made in Assembly 39 to reveal any flux asymmetry due to heterogeneity of the core; no such effect was detected.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• NSA Number: NSA-16-032260
• OSTI ID: 4759971
• Report Number(s): ANL-6582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ALUMINUM
BLANKETS
CONFIGURATION
CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES
CYLINDERS
Depleted Uranium
FAST NEUTRONS
FISSION CHAMBERS
Fast Reactor
Fissile Material
Fission Chamber
Fission Rate
MEASURED VALUES
METALS
NEUTRON FLUX
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
REACTIVITY
REACTORS
STEELS
URANIUM