Development of a water boil-off spent-fuel calorimeter system. [To measure decay heat generation rate]
A calorimeter system was developed to measure decay heat generation rates of unmodified spent fuel assemblies from commercial nuclear reactors. The system was designed, fabricated, and successfully tested using the following specifications: capacity of one BWR or PWR spent fuel assembly; decay heat generation range 0.1 to 2.5 kW; measurement time of < 12 h; and an accuracy of +-10% or better. The system was acceptance tested using a dc reference heater to simulate spent fuel assembly heat generation rates. Results of these tests indicated that the system could be used to measure heat generation rates between 0.5 and 2.5 kW within +- 5%. Measurements of heat generation rates of approx. 0.1 kW were obtained within +- 15%. The calorimeter system has the potential to permit measurements of heat generation rates of spent fuel assemblies and other devices in the 12- to 14-kW range. Results of calorimetry of a Turkey Point spent fuel assembly indicated that the assembly was generating approx. 1.55 kW.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6489408
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3434; ON: DE81024151
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
440300 -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
AFTER-HEAT
BOILING
CALIBRATION
CALORIMETERS
CALORIMETRY
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
TESTING
THERMAL REACTORS
TURKEY POINT-3 REACTOR
TURKEY POINT-4 REACTOR
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS