Research on plasma core reactors
Experiments and theoretical studies are being conducted for NASA on critical assemblies with one-meter diameter by one-meter long low-density cores surrounded by a thick beryllium reflector. These assemblies make extensive use of existing nuclear propulsion reactor components, facilities, and instrumentation. Due to excessive porosity in the reflector, the initial critical mass was 19 kg U(93.2). Addition of a 17-cm-thick by 89-cm-diameter beryllium flux trap in the cavity reduced the critical mass to 7 kg when all the uranium was in the zone just outside the flux trap. A mockup aluminum UF/sub 6/ container was placed inside the flux trap and fueled with uranium-graphite elements. Fission distributions and reactivity worths of fuel and structural materials were measured. Finally, an 85,000 cm/sup 3/ aluminum canister in the central region was fueled with UF/sub 6/ gas and fission density distributions determined. These results will be used to guide the design of a prototype plasma core reactor which will test energy removal by optical radiation.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 7359484
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-76-1432; CONF-760646-1; TRN: 76-018134
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on uranium plasmas, Princeton, NJ, USA, 10 Jun 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GAS FUELED REACTORS
REACTOR KINETICS
PLASMA CORE ASSEMBLY
CRITICAL MASS
DESIGN
MOCKUP
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FLUID FUELED REACTORS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
KINETICS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
ZERO POWER REACTORS
220600* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors