PURL
(958 K)
Title:
Prevention of a nuclear excursion upon water flooding of an ocean based Tory II-C
Publication Date:
1962 Dec 14
Document Number(s):
UCRL-ID-125501
Originating Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OpenNet Entry Date:
1997 Mar 28
OpenNet Modified Date:
2009 Nov 09
Description/Abstract:
As TORY II-C is presently designed, a nuclear excursion would occur if the core were flooded with water. This is true even if all of the existing control rods were fully inserted. Indeed ANGIE calculations indicate that the reactor would be about 30% super-critical in such a case. There are several methods by which the core may be forced sub- critical under these extreme conditions. We will here consider only the method of introducing, directly into the core, a material which strongly absorbs neutrons. It must be possible to remove this excess `poison` prior to, or during the boost phase. Since the computer codes can be trusted to only approximately 3%, we will, for safety, insist on 40% negative reactivity to be introduced by the excess poison.