TRANSIENT TESTS OF THE BSR-II CORE IN THE SPERT I FACILITY
A series of transient tests was performed in Spert I with the Bulk Shielding Reactor II (BSR-II) core to determine the self-limiting properties of this core and to test the response of the reactor control system. The experimental program included measurements of the static parameters, self- limiting transient tests, control-system-shutdown transient tests, low-level start-up tests, and determinations of the reduced prompt neutron lifetime by dynamic and static techniques. The kinetic behavior of the BSR-II self-limiting transient tests showed a general similarity to behavior of self-limiting transient tests performed on other plate-type cores tested at Spert. The control system was found to be more effective in terminating power bursts than was the inherent self-shutdown of the reactor for excursions initiated by reactivity additions of up to an excess reactivity of about 1.8 dollars, corresponding to a reactor period of about 3 msec. For reactivity insertions larger than 1.8 dollars, self-shutdown was more effective than shutdown by external controls in limiting the excursion. In the short-period region where limited or total core damage can occur, no increased protection to the reactor is provided by the control system. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Phillips Petroleum Co. Atomic Energy Div., Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(10-1)-205
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-024714
- OSTI ID:
- 4681360
- Report Number(s):
- IDO-16768
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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