Open AccessMEASURING THE RELEASE OF SHORT-LIVED FISSION GASES DURING CAPSULE IRRADIATIONS
Author(s) -
C.W. Townley,
G.E. Raines,
W.S. Diethorn,
D.N. Sunderman
Publication year - 1960
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4131618
Subject(s) - fission , fission products , radiochemistry , xenon , helium , chemistry , nuclear physics , irradiation , neutron , physics , organic chemistry
A technique is described for the determination of the release of short- lived fission gases during capsule fuel irradiations. Sweep helium passes over the fuel specimen and carries fission gases to a delay trap located close to the capsule. Short-lived fission gases decay in the trap and deposit long-lived daughters which are assayed by radiochemical methods after trap removal. In two demonstrations of the technique the radiochemical analyses have provided information on the rate of release of 1.7-sec Xe/sup 141/, 16-sec Xe/sup 140/, 3.9 min Xe/sup 137/, and 3.2-min Kr/sup 89/. The technique should find considerable application in the irradiation evaluation of fuel materials when it is necessary to determine the contribution shont-lived fission gases make to the coolant-contamination problem. (auth