A MODEL OF BUBBLE GROWTH IN THE KEWB REACTOR

Short-period transients (less than 15 msec) in the KEWB reactor are apparently controlled primarily by void production resulting from gas evolution in the core. A growth mechanism probably prevails during the short-period excursions which differs from that which occurs at longer periods. Experimental data were examined which showed that the energy transferred to the average bubble is an order of magnitude less than that required to cause bubble growth. It is believed, however, that the validity of the growth model can be established by refinements concerning energy availability deposited in the bubble area and by refinement of bubble-size distribution functions. (J.R.D.