Criticality of moderated and undermoderated low-enriched uranium oxide systems

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6927532

Goebel, G R

Uranium oxide was enriched to 4.46 wt % /sup 235/U compacted to a density of 4.68 g/cm/sup 3/. The uranium oxide was packed into cubical aluminum cans and water added to the oxide until an H/U atomic ratio of 0.77 was achieved. A 5 x 5 x 5 array of uranium oxide cans for the experiments were used when no plastic moderator material was placed between cans. High enriched uranium drivers were used to achieve criticality. Criticality was achieved for smaller arrays without a driver when 24.5 mm plastic moderator material was placed between the cans. Twelve critical experiments are reported, six in each reflector.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA). Energy Systems Group
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP03533
• OSTI ID: 6927532
• Report Number(s): RFP-3117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDES
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CRITICALITY
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM
ISOTOPE ENRICHED MATERIALS
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