Document Details
PURL
(1 mb)
Title:
Reactor Shut-Down Device, Progress Report For Period Ending November 30, 1952
Author(s):
Hoff, R. G. [North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States)]; Huston, N. E. [North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States)]
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
1952 Dec 04
Declassification Date:
1997 Apr 08
Declassification Status:
Declassified
Document Pages:
11 p.
Accession Number:
None
Document Number(s):
NAA-SR-MEMO-529
Originating Research Org.:
North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States)
OpenNet Entry Date:
2017 Oct 25
OpenNet Modified Date:
2023 Nov 06
Description/Abstract:
This report describes work done at N.A.A. on devising a safety shut-down device for reactors. Specifications require the device to be capable of quickly shutting down a reactor if the neutron flux exceeds a prescribed level and to be self-contained, reliable, and inaccessible to sabotage or bomb damage. The triggering device should be as independent of electrical and mechanical circuitry as possible. That is, the chain of action between the flux increase and the introduction of poison should be minimised. Such a device would be of particular value for high power reactors as a means of reducing the "safe limits" requirements of these reactors. At present the device is visualized as consisting of a reactor poison whose introduction into the reactor by gas pressure would be triggered directly by an increased neutron flux.