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

FAST BREEDER REACTOR THERMOCOUPLE DEVELOPMENT.

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4815839· OSTI ID:4815839

Studies of very high-temperature thermocouple characteristics for instrumentation and electrical components used in fast breeder reactors showed that the thermoelectric emf produced along BeO, HfO{sub 2}, or ThO{sub 2} insulators can affect the output of the thermoelements. Bare-wire thermocouples are influenced by environment. Radiation effects on W versus W - Re thermocouples in the ORR after ~ 2 months in a 1.2 x 10{sup 14}n/cm{sup 2}-sec thermal and 2.1 x 10{sup 13}n/cm{sup 2}-sec fast flux indicate that W and W - Re thermoelements shift similarly in thermal emf, resulting in a positive error of 5 deg C. Hafnates such as CaHfO{sub 3}, SrHfO{sub 3}, and SrZrO{sub 3} were found to be inferior to BeO and HfO{sub 2} as thermocouple insulating materials. (F.S.)

Research Organization:
General Electric Co., [Cincinnati, Ohio]. Nuclear Materials and Propulsion Operation
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-23-006666
OSTI ID:
4815839
Report Number(s):
GEMP--1004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English