Calculated critical parameters in simple geometries for oxide and nitrate water mixtures of U-233, U-235 and Pu-239 with thorium. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5748642· OSTI ID:5748642

Converse, W. E.; Bierman, S. R.

Calculations have been performed on water mixtures of oxides and nitrates of /sup 233/U, /sup 235/U, and /sup 239/Pu with chemically similar thorium compounds to determine critical dimensions for simple geometries (sphere, cylinder, and slab). Uranium enrichments calculated were 100%, 20%, 10%, and 5%; plutonium calculations assumed 100% /sup 239/Pu. Thorium to uranium or plutonium weight ratios (Th: U or Pu) calculated were 0, 1, 4, and 8. Both bare and full water reflection conditions were calculated. The results of the calculations are plotted showing a critical dimension versus the uranium or plutonium concentration. Plots of K-infinity and material buckling for each material type are also shown.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 5748642
• Report Number(s): PNL-2080-16; TRN: 80-004384
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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42 ENGINEERING
PLUTONIUM NITRATES
CRITICALITY
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
URANIUM NITRATES
URANIUM OXIDES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CRITICAL SIZE
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
PLUTONIUM 239
REPROCESSING
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SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
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URANIUM 233
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ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
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ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
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MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MIXTURES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
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RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLUTIONS
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
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