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U.S. Department of Energy
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In-reactor experiments on the cooling of fast reactor debris

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6871900
Following a reactor accident, particulate debris beds may be formed. The primary safety question is, ''Will decay-heated debris beds be cooled by the overlying sodium, or will they again melt and threaten the containment.'' This paper describes the first debris bed experiments using internally-heated oxide fuel in liquid sodium, summarizes the results from the first three in-reactor experiments, provides a description of an analysis of the sustained dryout phenomenon which occurred during the third experiment, and offers an important conclusion on debris bed dryout.
Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
6871900
Report Number(s):
SAND-78-0437C; CONF-781022-8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English