Open AccessADDITIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SL-1 EXCURSION. Final Report of Progress, July- October 1962
Publication year - 1962
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/4164582
Subject(s) - excursion , shroud , water hammer , control rod , yield (engineering) , chemistry , materials science , meteorology , mechanics , physics , thermodynamics , engineering , structural engineering , nuclear physics , law , political science
Work was carried out to obtain significant data on reactor excursions, in particular the SL-1 excursion, to extend the analysis of reactor transient behavior so as to obtain an improved understanding of the thermal and mechanical processes that take place during and following a reactor excursion, and to obtain chemical, metallurgical, and nuclear data relative to the pre-accident performance of the SL-1. Laboratory investigations were made of samples of the SL-1 power plant. Results are given and their significance discussed. An attempt was made to construct a mathematical model of reactor excursions, based partly on fundamental thermodynamic and nuclear considerations, and using some empirical results. This model was applied to SPERT and BORAX excursions with some success. Recommendations concerning reactor design and operation, which have arisen from the SL-1 accident and its analysis, are summarized. Results are presented in tables and graphs. (M.C.G.