SM-1 Research and Development. Task XV, Zero Power Experiments for SM-1 Core II and SM-1A Core I (open access)

SM-1 Research and Development. Task XV, Zero Power Experiments for SM-1 Core II and SM-1A Core I

Abstract: A zero power experiment on the SM-1 Core II included an element by element reactivity check of fuel elements and control rod absorber sections, and an estimate of burnable nuclear poison loading in stationary fuel elements. An approach to criticality was made by the inverse multiplication method, and critical rod bank position obtained as a function fuel loading up to full core loading. Minimum and maximum core reactivity measurements were obtained by selective loading of stationary fuel elements, and total excess K of the core was established. Power distribution measurements were taken in the regions of the core-reflector interface and the fuel-absorber interface in the control rod assemblies. The effectiveness of europium flux suppressors in the top of control rod fuel elements was determined, and power peaking was measured in stationary elements adjacent to control rod assembly water gaps. Survey measurements established the work of spiking clean, cold SM-1 cores with SM-2 elements and the work of water holes in the SM-1 Core. The reduced scope zero power experiment performed on SM-1A core I included an element by element uniformity check of stationary fuel elements, a core assembly test, comparison of Eu2O3 and B4C absorber sections, and development of …
Date: October 12, 1960
Creator: Robinson, R. A.; Weiss, S. H.; McCool, W. J. & Schrader, E. W.
System: The UNT Digital Library