AN INVESTIGATION OF THE THERMAL RESPONSE OF THE AEROSPACE SHIELD TEST REACTOR TO LOSS OF COOLANT.
Abstract
A heat-transfer model was developed and compared with experimental data. This comparison revealed that the model was conservative and that the heating rate and heatloss rate were excessive. The experimental data were acquired from the ASTR in a series of tests that involved removal of the coolant from the reactor following operation at various power levels and operating times. It is concluded that operation conditions for threshold melting can be predicted and that fuel-element peak temperatures resulting from loss of coolant are relatively unaffected by the reactor being in either air or water. It is further concluded that overheated fuel elements can be cooled by adding water, with relatively little hazard of rupturing a fuel plate. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0614452
Entities
People
- R. A. Lawrence
Organizations
- General Dynamics