Conversion and Evaluation of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor From High-Enriched To Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel
The process for converting the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR) from high-enrichment uranium (HEU) fuel to low-enrichment uranium (LEU) fuel began in 1988. Several years of design reviews, computational modeling, and thermal hydraulic analyses resulted in a preliminary reference core design and configuration based on 20 standard, MTR-type, flat-plate, 19.75% enriched, uranium silicide (u3Si2) fuel elements. A final safety analysis for the fuel conversion was submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1993. The NRC made two additional requests for additional information and supplements were submitted in 1994 and 1997. The new UMLRR Reactor Supervisor initiated an effort to change the LEU reference core configuration to eliminate a complicated control rod modification needed for the smaller core.
- Research Organization:
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-99ID13742
- OSTI ID:
- 820521
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/13742; TRN: US0400178
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 19 Nov 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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