Measurements and Changes on SM-1 Core II During Period October 1, 1961 to May 30, 1962

Technical Report · Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 EDT 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4796988· OSTI ID:4796988

Moote, F. G. ^[1]; Best, W. C. ^[1]; Kortheuer, J. D. ^[1]

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1. Alco Products, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)

Tests at the SM-1 reactor are reported for the period October 1, 1961, to May 31, 1962. Loading changes were made in SM-1 Core II during the scheduled semi-annual shutdowns in October to November 1961 and April to May 1962. Core physics tests include control rod bank calibrations, bank position at several temperature and xenon poison conditions vs core changes and energy release, shutdown neutron source decay and startup channel testing, and critical rod positions for stuck rod configurations. Shielding measurements of gamma radiation in the rod drive pit were made, and dose rates from spent fuel elements as a function of the depth of the water shield were obtained. A lift mechanism for the BF₃ detector of one startup channel was installed and preliminary testing completed. Water chemistry and radiochemistry tests included a changeover to high pH for the primary coolant, fission product monitoring for iodine measurement of dose rates on primary system during shutdown, radiochemical analysis of primary water and crud, and change of metal corrosion samples. Buildup of radioactivity in the demineralizer was monitored by radiation surveys and film badge exposures.

• Research Organization: Alco Products, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-1)-2639
• NSA Number: NSA-16-028521
• OSTI ID: 4796988
• Report Number(s): APAE-Memo-305(Suppl.1)
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ACIDITY
BORON FLUORIDES
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CORROSION
CRITICALITY
DECAY
FILMS
FISSION PRODUCTS
GAMMA RADIATION
IODINE
MEASURED VALUES
MONITORING
MOTION
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON SOURCES
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM DETECTORS
POISONING
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOCHEMISTRY
REACTIVITY
REACTOR FUELING
REACTORS
SHIELDING
SHUTDOWN
SM-1
STARTUP
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
USES
VARIATIONS
WATER COOLANT
WATER MODERATOR
XENON
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Reactor Technology
Core Physics Tests
Shielding Measurements
BF3 Detector