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Reactor Physics Test Program for the Light Water Breeder Reactor (LWBR) core at Shippingport. (LWBR Development Program)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5349718

This report presents and discusses the results of the reactor physics test program for the LWBR core at Shippingport during the reduced power phase of operation from 18,298 EFPH through the end of life at 28,730 EFPH. Test results covering the period from initial startup to 18,298 EFPH have previously been reported in WAPD-TM--1336 (June 1979) and WAPD-TM-1455 (December 1981). The periodic physics tests have confirmed that movable seed assembly (control element) critical positions and reactivity worths, reactivity coefficients, xenon and protactinium characteristics, core symmetry and core shutdown continued to be within the range of values used in the design of LWBR and its safety analysis. The results of these tests give confidence that breeding has occurred in the Shippingport LWBR core, but confirmation of breeding will be obtained by nondestructive and destructive assay of a sample of expended fuel rods from the LWBR core. The testing has shown that the calculational models used can predict the behavior of U/sup 233/-Th fuel systems with tight lattices and movable fuel. In addition, the end of life test results confirmed the validity of the physics parameters assumed for the defueling safety assessment. 16 references, 25 figures, 35 tables.

Research Organization:
Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC11-76PN00014
OSTI ID:
5349718
Report Number(s):
WAPD-TM-1455-Add.; ON: DE84006392
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English