SPECTRAL SHIFT CONTROL REACTOR BASIC PHYSICS PROGRAM. Quarterly Technical Report No. 5, July-DEcember 1961

Technical Report · Wed Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4791849

The work done on the Spectral Shift Control Reactor Basic Physics Program during the fifth eontraet quarter is summarized. Critieal experiments were performed wsth 4%-enriched UO/sub 2/ fuel rods in moderators containing 0 and 50%; D/sub 2/O, and with 93%-enriched UO/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/ fuel rods at 60% D/ sub 2/O. Measured were critical mass, buckling and reflector savings, thermal disadvantage faetor, cadmium raiios of U/sup 235 and U-/sup 238/, and epithermal neutron spectrum. A radially zone-loaded assembly was studied at a D/sub 2/O coneentration of 82%. This assembly contained 93%-enriehed in the outer zone. Also measured were eriiical mass. axial buckling, cadmium ratios of U/sup 235/ and Th/sup 232/, thermal disadvantage factor, thermal flux distribution, and power dlstribution. Exponential experiments extended the range of measurements to D/sub 2/O coneentrations above those that could be achieved in the eritical experiments. The material buckling and cadmium ratio of U-of5 were measured at roon temperature in lattiees of 4%-enriched UO3 fuel at 81 and 89% D/sub 2/O. Earlier measurements on 93%enriched UO/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/ lattiees were revised. Preparations for an exponential experiment at elevated temperatures (4%-enriehed fuel and 81% D/sub 2/O) were completed. Reported and discussed are the final results of neutron age nneasurements in a lattiee of ThO/sub 2/ rods at D/sub 2/O eoncentrations between 0 and 90%. The final revision of the BPG code and the ealculational methods used to analyze the data are reported. Final caleulations of eriticality, buekling, disadvantage factor, cadnium ratios of U/sup 235/ and U/ sup 238/, spectrum, and neutron age were completed and are compared with experimental data. In most cases agreement is satisfactory, but the disadvantage factors and the neutron ages still show some disagreement at low D/ sub 2/O concentrations. Some calculations supporting the design and interpretation of the experlments are reported. (auth)

• Research Organization: Babcock and Wilcox Co. Atomic Energy Div., Lynchburg, Va.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-011190
• OSTI ID: 4791849
• Report Number(s): BAW-1240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BUCKLING
CADMIUM
CADMIUM RATIO
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL
CRITICALITY
DISTRIBUTION
ENRICHMENT
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
EQUATIONS
ERRORS
EXPONENTIAL PILES
FERMI AGE
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
HEAVY WATER
HEAVY WATER MODERATOR
HIGH TEMPERATURE
LOW TEMPERATURE
MASS
MEASURED VALUES
MODERATORS
MULTIPLICATION FACTORS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRONS
NUMERICALS
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
PROGRAMMING
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REFLECTORS
RODS
SPECTRA
SPECTRAL SHIFT
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THERMAL UTILIZATION
THORIUM 232
THORIUM ALLOYS
THORIUM OXIDES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
URANIUM DIOXIDE
ZONES