Hybrid B/sub 4/C absorber control rod evaluation report. [PWR]

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7246867

Skaritka, J ^[1]

---

1. ed.

The report evaluates the planned introduction of a Westinghouse hybrid boron carbide (B/sub 4/C) full-length rod cluster control assembly (RCCA) into three and four loop 12' 17 x 17 fuel assemblies cores. The hybrid RCCA consists of 24 hybrid absorber rods, each containing silver--indium--cadmium (Ag--In--Cd) absorber and B/sub 4/C absorber pellets stacked on top of the Ag--In--Cd. Except for the substitution of B/sub 4/C pellets for Ag--In--Cd absorber length, the hybrid RCCA hardware remains unchanged from the 100 percent Ag--In--Cd full-length RCCA presently being used. The part-length RCCA remains unchanged with 100 percent Ag--In--Cd absorber rods. The hybrid RCCA is designed primarily in response to the projected limited future availability of silver and indium. In order to satisfy control rod drop time requirements, the hybrid RCCA plus its associated drive rod is specified to weigh a minimum of 211 pounds. Using the drive rods currently available, 40'' of Ag--In--Cd rod length is required to satisfy the design minimum weight. When available, a heavier weight drive rod design can be substituted and will permit decreased Ag--In--Cd lengths to as little as 20''.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7246867
• Report Number(s): WCAP-8846
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
BORON CARBIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
DESIGN
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SPECIFICATIONS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS