CRITICALITY EXCURSION OF NOVEMBER 10, 1961

Technical Report · Tue Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4816067· OSTI ID:4816067

Callihan, D

A criticality excursion occurred at the Oak Ridge Critical Experiments Laboratory on November l0, l961 as enriched uranium metal, neutron reflected and moderated by hydrogen, was being assembled. It is estimated that the energy yield was between 10/sup 15/ and 10/sup 16/ fissions. There was no personnel exposure or property damage. Fission product contamination, both airborne and contained in the metal, decayed sufficiently overnight to allow unhindered continuation of the experiment. The excursion was caused by a too rapid approach of the two sections of uranium constituting the experiment. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• NSA Number: NSA-16-009027
• OSTI ID: 4816067
• Report Number(s): ORNL-TM-139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AEROSOLS
CONTAMINATION
CRITICALITY
DECAY
ENERGY
ENRICHMENT
EXCURSIONS
FISSION
FISSION PRODUCTS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HYDROGEN
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
METALS
MODERATORS
NEUTRONS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
REACTORS
URANIUM