A PROPOSAL FOR THE CONTROLLED RELEASE OF STORED ENERGY IN THE MTR REFLECTOR GRAPHITE

Technical Report · Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4056812· OSTI ID:4056812

Fast, E.; Smith, E. O.; Ford, J. D.

A study of the stored energy buildup in the MTR reflector graphite and a program of controlled energy release is presented. Calculations, based on measurements of samples from the pebble zone show that an inadvertent spontaneous stored energy release would cause a temperature rise of 90 deg F in the pebble zone. The maximum transient structure temperatures resulting from a worst credible accidental release of energy would be less than allowable at present (except for possible damage to neutron detector chambers) but could exceed this value in five years. It is proposed that the stored energy be released by thermal annealing. The reflector graphite is heated by reducing the air flow and operating the reactor at low power until a temperature of 500 deg F is reached, at which point the reactor is scrammed. Normal cooling is provlded after 15 minutes at peak anneal temperature or if the temperature rises to 600 deg F. Health physics monitoring includes continuous measurement of particulate and of Ci/sup 4/ activity. Sustained oxidatlon, if it occurs, wlll be detected with a C0/sub 2/ monitor and controlled by smothering. An estimated 2 or 3 days of MTR operating time will be needed of which the anneal itself wlll require about one day. (auth)

• Research Organization: Phillips Petroleum Co. Atomic Energy Div., Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AT(10-1)-205
• NSA Number: NSA-15-014803
• OSTI ID: 4056812
• Report Number(s): IDO-16656
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
ACCIDENTS
AIR
ANNEALING
CARBON DIOXIDE
CONTROL
COOLANTS
DETECTION
FAILURES
GAS FLOW
GRAPHITE
HEATING
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURED VALUES
MONITORING
MTR
NEUTRON DETECTION
OXIDATION
PARTICLES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVITY
REACTORS
REFLECTORS
TEMPERATURE
TRANSIENTS
VARIATIONS
WIGNER EFFECT