Recent operational history of the new Sandia Pulsed Reactor III (SPR III)

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5262414

Schmidt, T. R.; Estes, B. F.; Reuscher, J. A.

The Sandia Pulsed Reactor III (SPR III) is a fast-pulse research reactor which was designed and built at Sandia Laboratories and achieved criticality in August 1975. The reactor is now characterized and is in an operational configuration. The core consists of 18 fuel plates (258 kg fuel mass) of fully enriched uranium alloyed with 10 wt.% molybdenum. It is arranged in an annular configuration with an inside diameter of 17.78 cm, an outside diameter of 29.72 cm, and a height of 35.9 cm. The reactor core uses reflectors of copper and aluminum for control and an external bolting arrangement to secure the fuel plates. SPR III and SPR II are operated on an interchangeable basis using the same facility and control system. As of June 1977, SPR III has had over 240 operations with core temperatures up to 541/sup 0/C.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5262414
• Report Number(s): SAND-77-1116C; CONF-771109-38
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
MODIFICATIONS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PULSED REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SPR-3 REACTOR