Dismantlement of the TSF-SNAP Reactor Assembly
Journal Article
·
· Nuclear Technology
OSTI ID:958974
- ORNL
This paper describes the dismantlement of the Tower Shielding Facility (TSF)?Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) reactor, a SNAP-10A reactor used to validate radiation source terms and shield performance models at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) from 1967 through 1973. After shutdown, it was placed in storage at the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12), eventually falling under the auspices of the Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Disposition Program. To facilitate downblending of the HEU present in the fuel elements, the TSF-SNAP was moved to ORNL on June 24, 2006. The reactor assembly was removed from its packaging, inspected, and the sodium-potassium (NaK) coolant was drained. A superheated steam process was used to chemically react the residual NaK inside the reactor assembly. The heat exchanger assembly was removed from the top of the reactor vessel, and the criticality safety sleeve was exchanged for a new safety sleeve that allowed for the removal of the vessel lid. A chain-mounted tubing cutter was used to separate the lid from the vessel, and the 36 fuel elements were removed and packaged in four U.S. Department of Transportation 2R/6M containers. The fuel elements were returned to Y-12 on July 13, 2006. The return of the fuel elements and disposal of all other reactor materials accomplished the formal objectives of the dismantlement project. In addition, a project model was established for the handling of a fully fueled liquid-metal?cooled reactor assembly. Current criticality safety codes have been benchmarked against experiments performed by Atomics International in the 1950s and 1960s. Execution of this project provides valuable experience applicable to future projects addressing space and liquid-metal-cooled reactors.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EM USDOE - Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (EM)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 958974
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 166; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
NATIONAL SECURITY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POTASSIUM ALLOYS
RADIATION SOURCES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTOR VESSELS
SAFETY
SODIUM ALLOYS
US DOT
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
NATIONAL SECURITY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POTASSIUM ALLOYS
RADIATION SOURCES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTOR VESSELS
SAFETY
SODIUM ALLOYS
US DOT