CONTROL CONCEPTS FOR NUCLEAR RAMJET REACTORS

Technical Report · Sat Jun 11 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4764989

Finnigan, R E

Test plans for Tory II-A, the first experimental reactor in the Pluto nuclear ramjet program, are reported. The fundamental objective of Tory II-A is to demonstrate that a high power-density, high-temperature, air-cooled reactor can be successfully designed, constructed, and operated. This application places requirements on the reactor control system which are considerably more stringent than those found in previous reactor systems, both from the standpoint of radiation environment and system performance. To fulfill the system requirements a high-performance reactor control system was designed and built; control actuation hardware was developed which can withstand the highradiation environment of Tory III-A. This actuation system features radiation-tolerant electrohydraulic components: actuators, servo-valves, solenoid valves, feedback transducers, accumulators and associated hydraulic components. To provide high reliability against undesired shutdowns while carrying out high power level transients, the Tory II-A control philosophy includes a new concept in reactor safety: reliance on a nonlocking, fast-reset safety system during accident situations. The fast-reset system acts so as to hold the programmed power level rather than initiating an irreversible scram' action. A reactor scram,'' if tolerated, could produce thermal shocks which would seriously damage the core components. (auth)

• Research Organization: California. Univ., Livermore. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-16-031277
• OSTI ID: 4764989
• Report Number(s): UCRL-6031
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
AIR
AIRCRAFT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
FAILURES
GAS COOLANT
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDRAULICS
MACHINE PARTS
PERFORMANCE
POWER
PROGRAMMING
PROPULSION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
STANDARDS
THERMAL STRESSES
TRANSDUCERS
TRANSIENTS
VALVES