Production test PTA-002, increased graphite temperature limit -- B, C and D Reactors [electronic resource]

The fundamental objective of the graphite temperature limit is to prevent excessive oxidation of the graphite moderator blocks with carbon dioxide and water vapor in the reactor atmosphere. Laboratory tests have shown that 10% uniform oxidation of graphite results in a loss in strength of approximat...

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Bibliographic Details
Online Access: Online Access
Corporate Authors: Douglas United Nuclear, Inc (Researcher), Hanford Site (Wash.) (Researcher)
Format: Government Document Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. : Oak Ridge, Tenn. : United States. Dept. of Energy ; distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy, 1965.
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Summary:The fundamental objective of the graphite temperature limit is to prevent excessive oxidation of the graphite moderator blocks with carbon dioxide and water vapor in the reactor atmosphere. Laboratory tests have shown that 10% uniform oxidation of graphite results in a loss in strength of approximately 50%. Production Test IP-725 was conducted at F Reactor for a period of six months at graphite temperatures approximately 50 and 100 C higher than the present graphite temperature limit of 650 C. The results from the F Reactor test suggest that an increase in the graphite temperature limit from 650 C to 700 C is technically feasible from the standpoint of oxidation of the graphite moderator with CO₂. Any significant additional increase was shown to lead to excessively high oxidation rates and is therefore not considered feasible. The objective of this test, therefore, is to extend the higher temperature investigations to B, C, and D Reactors. For the duration of this test, the graphite temperature limit will be increased from 650 C and 700 C, corresponding to an increase in the graphite stringer temperature limit from 735 C to 790 C. The test is expected to last for approximately six months but may be terminated early on any or all the reactors.
Item Description:Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information.
12/17/1965.
"dun--370"
"DE95006918"
Russell, A.
Physical Description:10 p. : digital, PDF file.