A geometric buckling expression for regular polygons: 1. Measurements in low-enriched UO[sub 2]-H[sub 2]O lattices
- Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst. Ibaraki (Japan)
In the nuclear criticality safety design of a nuclear fuel cycle facility, the geometric buckling of the fuel core is one of the most important quantities used in estimating criticality. When the material buckling value is known for a system consisting of fissile materials, it is possible to judge whether or not the system is subcritical by comparing the material buckling with the geometric buckling. It is widely known that the geometric buckling of a given core can be calculated by using a simple formula for some geometries, e.g., square, cylinder, slab, and sphere. The experimental results of the geometrical buckling for typical regular polygons are described. Geometric buckling for three types of regular polygons has been measured in light-water moderated UO[sub 2]-H[sub 2]O lattices in the tank-type critical assembly at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. Based on the known critical buckling of a given experimental lattice and the measured critical water levels, the horizontal buckling has been evaluated for various sizes of regular hexagonal square, and regular triangular cores. This method is based on the separability of geometric buckling into horizontal and vertical components. From the measured critical water levels of each core, it was found that the horizontal buckling of the effective core region is inversely proportional to the square of the radius of the circumscribed circle of the core.
- OSTI ID:
- 6122089
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (United States) Vol. 103:3; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BUCKLING
CHALCOGENIDES
CRITICALITY
DESIGN
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL CYCLE CENTERS
GEOMETRIC BUCKLING
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
JAERI
JAPANESE ORGANIZATIONS
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTOR LATTICES
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SAFETY
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
WATER
ZERO POWER REACTORS