HELIUM AS A REACTOR COOLANT

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1960 · Progr. in Nuclear Energy, Ser. IV

OSTI ID:4800553

Fraas, A P

The combination of high thermal conductivity and specific heat coupled with chemical inertness gives helium unique advantages over any other gas as a reactor coolant. These advantages are particularly pronounced if the reactor is designed to operate at temperatures above 1000 deg F. Four major reactors are based on helium as the coolant, i.e., Dragon and Winfrith Heath, EGCR at Oak Ridge, HTGR near Philadelphia, and Turret at Los Alamos. In each instance helium was chosen in preference to carbon dioxide in an effort to avoid graphite-carbon dioxide reactions which lead to serious losses of graphite from the core and deposition of carbon in the steam generator or heat exchanger. (N.W.R.)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-012832
• OSTI ID: 4800553
• Journal Information: Progr. in Nuclear Energy, Ser. IV, Journal Name: Progr. in Nuclear Energy, Ser. IV Vol. Vol: 4
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COOLANTS
GASES
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
GENERATORS
GRAPHITE
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HELIUM
LOSSES
PLANNING
REACTOR CORE
REACTORS
SPECIFIC HEAT
STEAM
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY