Document Details
PURL
(712 K)
Title:
Pile Safety as Affected by Boiling Considerations
Author(s):
Greninger, A. B. [Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States)]
Subject Terms:
Reactor Technology
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
1953 May 18
Declassification Date:
1981 Jun 10
Declassification Status:
Declassified
Document Pages:
10 p.
Accession Number:
RL-1-356825
Document Number(s):
HW-28083
Originating Research Org.:
Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States)
OpenNet Entry Date:
2023 May 17
OpenNet Modified Date:
2023 Oct 10
Description/Abstract:
It is advocated that a new policy be established for determining the maximum heat output that can be permitted in a pile process tube because of boiling considerations. Instead of establishing this limiting heat output by consideration of header pressure available for sweeping vapors from the tube after boiling has commenced, the limiting heat output is to be detected and the sensitivity with which flow reduction in the tube can be detected and used to scram the pile instantaneously. This, if the instrumentation provides that the pile is scrammed in the event of a 1% reduction in flow in a particular tube, the outlet water temperature in this tube might be permitted to approach very close to the boiling temperature at the pressure prevailing in the discharge header. On the other hand, if a 50% reduction in flow is required before a pile scram is initiated, then the outlet water temperature must be restricted to a value somewhat less than the average of the inlet water temperature and the boiling temperature at the pressure prevailing in the discharge header. The sensitivity with which flow changes can be monitored in any tube will vary with the type of instrumentation provided and will be affected by the magnitude of the normal flow in the tube; the sensitivity selected will also reflect a practicable balance between the high heat output or minimum water flow resulting from a high degree of sensitivity versus the expense of numerous sporadic scrams which would result from mal-functioning if the sensitivity is established too high.