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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Critical Mass Studies of Plutonium Solutions

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/89513· OSTI ID:89513
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States)

The chain reacting conditions for plutonium nitrate in water solution have been examined experimentally for a variety of sizes of spheres and cylinders. The effects on the critical mass of the displacement of hydrogen and the addition of poisons to the fuel were measured in water tamped and bare reactors. In this report the data obtained in the investigation is presented graphically and in tables. Some preliminary analysis has been made yielding the results: (i) the absorption cross-section of Pu240 is 925 ± 200 barns and (ii) the minimum critical mass of Pu239 in water is 510 grams at concentration of about 33 grams per liter.

Research Organization:
Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
89513
Report Number(s):
HW--24514; ON: DE95013948
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English