HIGH-TEMPERATURE BARE BeO CRITICAL EXPERIMENTS: GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Technical Report · Fri Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4771395

Finke, R G

Five high-temperature bare BeO critical experiments were conducted for three different gross BeO/U/sup 235/ molar ratios: 280: 1, 550: 1, and 1100: 1. For each ratio, at least two critical configurations were determined. Their corresponding critical temperatures ranged up to 1115 deg F. The buckling temperature coefficient at 500 deg F varies directly with BeO/U/sup 235/ ratio from 0.26%/100 deg F for the lower ratio to 0.60%/100 deg F for the higher ratio. The contribution of thermal expansion to the buckling temperature coefficient was examined for different BeO-block arrangements in the graphite supporting box. A variation by a factor of three for different block positions is calculated. Within experimental error, the nuclear components of the BeO buckling temperature coefficients are the same as, and show the same dependence on moderator-to- uranium ratio as, those previously reported for graphite at C/U/sub 235/ ratios about 2.3 times the BeO/U/sup 235/ ratios. (auth)

• Research Organization: California. Univ., Livermore. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• NSA Number: NSA-17-002159
• OSTI ID: 4771395
• Report Number(s): UCRL-6980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BERYLLIUM OXIDES
BUCKLING
CONFIGURATION
CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES
CRITICALITY
ERRORS
EXPANSION
GRAPHITE
GRAPHITE MODERATOR
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MEASURED VALUES
MODERATORS
MOLECULES
PHYSICS
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTOR CORE
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
URANIUM 235
VARIATIONS