Irradiation testing of miniature fuel plates for the RERTR program. [Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactors]

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6214116· OSTI ID:6214116

Senn, R L; Martin, M M

An irradiation test facility, which provides a test bed for irradiating a variety of miniature fuel plates (miniplates) for the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program, has been placed into operation. These tests screen various candidate fuel materials on their suitability for replacing the highly enriched uranium fuel materials currently used by the world's test and research reactors with a lower enrichment fuel material, without significantly degrading reactor operating characteristics and power levels. The use of low uranium enrichment of about 20% /sup 235/U in place of highly enriched fuel for these reactors would reduce the potential for /sup 235/U diversion. The irradiation test facility, designated as HFED, is operating in core position E-7 in the Oak Ridge Research Reactor (ORR), a 30-MW water-moderated reactor. The miniplates will achieve burnups of up to approx. 2.2 x 10/sup 27/ fissions/m/sup 3/ of fuel.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6214116
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7761; ON: DE81025855
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PLATES
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORR REACTOR
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TEST FACILITIES
URANIUM
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS