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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

NUCLEAR SUPERHEAT PROJECT NINTH QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT, JULY-SEPTEMBER 1961

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4771250

Engineering physics studies were performed which reveal that significant improvements in axial fuel clad temperature profiles may be obtained by the use of axial variations in enrichment and burnable poisons. Materials development is being emphasized after chloride stress crack failures in stainless steel fuel elements. A topical report concerning the experimental and analytical phases of the AEC Superheat Critical Program is being written. In coolant testing, metallographic examinations of 304 stainless steel specimens exposed isothermically for 4500 hr in 1050 deg F steam were made. Low metal-to-system losses were measured; however, the possibility of metal-to-system loss rate increase with longer exposure was indicated. In heat transfer experiments, three crackdown runs with Reynolds numbers up to 880,000 were completed during the period. In SADE development, irradiations were performed on two 0.028-in. stainless steel clad annular fuel elements. Fabrication was started on the SH-5 fuel element with 0.016-in.-thick cladding. Design work continued on the E-SADE and Mass Spectrum Superheat Reactor. (J.R.D.)

Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Atomic Power Equipment Dept., San Jose, Calif.
NSA Number:
NSA-16-032573
OSTI ID:
4771250
Report Number(s):
GEAP-3877
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English